NEW! Full-Color Halloween Guide
Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting is the newest guide for vintage Halloween collectibles. The book is expected to have a sales release date of September 21, 2024 from the THR bookstore on Etsy. And while the new survey book series will shift into picture-book style with big photographs (on 8-1/2 x 11 full-color pages) that show unusual views or previously unseen objects across 114 pages, the focus will continue to rely on primary sources of the vintage market (via newspapers, 550+ vendor catalogs, etc.) that appear in the book as illustrated catalog samples and timelines based on dates of items seen for sale in past.
NOTE 11-4-2024 that The Halloween Retrospect has begun a log of remarks, errors, and, bonus material, etc. for this book located in this blog entry. Click here for Book Updates.
Volume 1: Lighting of this new series focuses on jack o’lanterns, shades, and even prints in luminescent inks – all created for the vintage holiday market from 1900-1970. Across the main 100 page gallery-area of the book, readers will find multiple views of single objects, or multiple objects that may have not been previously seen in print (beyond postage-stamp scale). There are works by Toledo Metal Sign Co, Beistle, Dennison, Gibson Art Co., Dolly Toy Co., American Novelty Co., Miller Electric Co., Hallmark, and Empire Plastics Corp. (just to name some of those that can be positively identified among more whose makers might not be as well known to us today).
When available the Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting collectibles reference will appear in publications along with with more imagery, and an etsy checkout link. This author sells via THR Etsy Bookstore to control stock quality, manage applicable taxes as required, and ship in a sturdy box.
Available now (released September 21, 2024) – see publications.
The cover of Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting features a vintage paper-molded jack-o-lantern as seen in the pages of the book. (Photograph and design by Wiley for THR).
Reviews for Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting arriving on THR’s online bookstore via etsy.
Available now (released September 21, 2024) – see publications.
Volume one: Contents
Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting
Available as an 8-1/2″×11″ full-color 114-page book of big images together with synchronous data from novelty merchandise catalogs held in The Halloween Retrospect archive library.
Contents:
Foreword by Charles Beck (pg. 4) offers an intro to the experience of meaningful vintage Halloween collecting and offers a look at Beck’s publications focused on antique and vintage photography featuring Halloween traditions. Contains photograph from Charles Beck’s “Halloween Haunts.”
Harvesting an Ember Glimmers of the Past in Lanterns, Shades, & Luminescent Inks (pg. 5) is the author’s introduction that builds for a reader a sense of what it is like finding the treasures of old Halloween, and beginning to comprehend their historical presence in a vintage marketplace. Contains 2 photographs from the author.
Introduction Revisiting a Foreword from Research Series THR, Vol. 1 (pg. 6) returns to the original publication by THR from 2023 to give a practical background of the author’s journey into research that includes the following segments: Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Source, THR’s Archive Library.
Contains 4 photographs from the THR archive library.
Halloween Artifacts: Lighting THR’s Archive Collection Synchronized with Library Data (pg. 10 )returns to the original publication by THR from 2023 to give a practical background of the author’s journey into research that includes the following segments: Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Source, THR’s Archive Library.
Contains 4 photographs from the THR archive library..
Sources & Additional Reading A Quick List of Selected Publications (pg. 113) reviews a small list of sources used throughout the book, and includes a list of additional research from THR.
11-04-2024: Book Updates
THR notes the following as worthy of attention concerning the first edition of Halloween Artifacts, V1: Lighting. Typos or unclear statements will likely update in future editions.
Moratorium (use of term) – note this author selected the term to indicate the original producer ceased availability (or production) of item. Often this appears next to a question mark indicating such data is unavailable, separate from any appearance of stock lingering in the marketplace.
Page 56 (typo) – the goblin shade appears on page 55, not page 54.
Page 84-85 (clarification) – it might be interpreted that any Cathedral Windows product occurred in two sizes, however, the inset (p. 85) are sizes for Christmas versions and THR is not aware of more than one size for Halloween.
Other THR Publications
PLEASE NOTE: THR does NOT employ AI-generative technology. Content is created by human biological entities to ensure results engage accurate research with mindful artistry.
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