Local Collector Guides

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Art books & Research Digests (THR)

Vintage Halloween Collectibles guide books from THR Research Library (June 2023-Sept 2024) include three digests of articles from the archive librarian, and one large art survey book featuring things that glow-in-the-dark like lanterns, shades, and luminescent diecuts from early 20th-century 1900's to mid-century to the 1970's. (The Halloween Retrospect- collector, researcher, writer, editor, publisher).

A selection of book publications from The Halloween Retrospect archive library – featuring vintage Halloween collectibles guides in small digest volumes and the newest art-book survey.

Since the first THR archive library publication of September 2023, The Halloween Retrospect presently offers four guide book titles for the shelf of vintage Halloween collectors. The initial volumes are 32-page novelty-sized article-filled digests The Halloween Retrospect (Volume One, Two, and Three respectively). Then, for something more visual, the new Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting (with a September 2024 release) is an an 8-1/2″ x 11″ full-color 114-page art-book featuring an eye-candy feast of lanterns, shades, & glow-in–dark diecuts.

All books are for sale via THR bookstore on Etsy, and THR is pleased to offer here, with much gratitude, a few favorite book reviews from the website.

Book reviews for vintage Halloween collectibles guide book reference by The Halloween Retrospect's Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1 - a new large-scale picture-book of antique objects that glow in the dark.
Collectors vintage Halloween reference tool from THR archive library featuring haunted houses and Hallmark designs in the 3rd edition The Halloween Retrospect.
Halloween figures made in Germany are on the cover art of research digest Volume 2 from THR getting positive customer reviews from buyers on Etsy online bookstore.
With original art by Bindlegrim, the customer review is for vintage Halloween collector guidebook reference by The Halloween Retrospect, the first volume released in June 2023 which is now on its second print run.

Book reviews for The Halloween Retrospect vintage Halloween collector titles – THR’s bookstore.

Copies of THR Books
in an Archive Near You

THR is always sure to get free copies provided to any library and/or archive that assists in the development of data used within these vintage Halloween collectibles books. It may be that you can preview a copy in a local resource near to you, and here is a short list of a few that come to mind at time of this blog entry. Apologies for any omissions at time of writing…

Thanks to discoverability and accessibility of information from the Warren County Historical Society, a copy of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 is sent (Jun. 2023) per the assistive role one of their newsletters played. That content is used in an article about early novelties available via educator supply catalogs such as those by March Brothers Publishing Company of Lebanon, Ohio.

Thanks to archive availability of internal letters, and the assistance of a very involved archivist, THR conclusively decodes the serial numbers found on publications of the iconic Dennison Manufacturing Company of their seasonal and non-seasonal publications. The archive that houses that content, Framingham History Center, has been sent (Dec. 2024) copies of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 2.

Thanks to one very helpful Hallmark Archivist who located some internal data for mid-century Hallmark products (not to mention a fantastic peek at company magazine photos included in the THR digest), copies of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 3 are sent there (Jul. 2024).

Copies of THR
@ Castle Halloween

Vintage Halloween Collector and Museum Curator Pamela E. Apkarian Russell of Castle Halloween in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Collection of the archive. (Front of Postcard).
Vintage Halloween Collector and Museum Curator Pamela E. Apkarian Russell of Castle Halloween in Pennsylvania. Collection of the archive. (Back of Postcard).

A postcard (front, back) for Castle Halloween which this author gathered on an awesome visit.

Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell is a phenomenal collector in the world of vintage Halloween. So much so that she has established a ginormous publicly-accessible collection called Castle Halloween found at 2028 Broad Avenue in Altoona, PA. (Read more on Atlas Obscura or Trip Advisor). With simply too much within its walls to describe here – please click on the postcards above to learn more (and/or check out some of the images others have shared online). Please note that tour schedules and cost are absent (from the old card above) since that information is subject to change – and that its best to call ahead remembering that the museum is by appointment only.

Leaning toward research in much of her work for the museum, Pamela is also an author in her own right. Two of her books (from Schiffer Publishing) are shown below: Collectible Halloween with Values as well as More Halloween Collectibles : Anthropomorphic Vegetables and Fruits of Halloween. With much respect to her ongoing work, every book published by THR is sent her way to join the Castle Halloween library… that when last checked were available for visitors to peruse, (though once there I am quite sure you will be distracted elsewhere given the amazing content of the museum)…!!!

Vintage Halloween Collector Guide Survey Book by Pamela E Apkarian-Russell Collectible Halloween with Values from Schiffer Publishing (Front Cover)
Vintage Halloween Collector Guide Survey Book by Pamela E Apkarian-Russell More Collectibles Anthropomorphic Vegetables and Fruits from Schiffer Publishing (Front Cover)

Vintage Halloween Collectibles Books by Pamela E. Apkarian-Russell (of Castle Halloween, PA)

Happy Halloween!

Well, while I had hoped to also catch some of the typos found with the latest book Halloween Artifacts in this immediate blog entry – that task will be accomplished forthwith in the next. This one already has enough information to peruse…. and don’t forget to purchase any of THR’s book’s shown below from the Etsy online store. Happy Halloween 2024!

New full-color 114-page 8-1/2x11 reference book from THR archive library publications is Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting that offers a vintage collector a guide with large images, vintage catalog samples, and whenever possible a timeline of vintage novelty merchandise catalog dates. (The Halloween Retrospect archive collection).
The third reference guide volume continues book research of America’s past Halloween marketplace. This guide features a study of haunted house ephemera and features Hallmark mid-century innovations The book also has small articles on the 60’s wave of sound effects vinyl and a list of catalog terminology. Official copies of this 9″x6″ softcover 32-page book (in color and black & white) include poster and crossword puzzle.
Continues the tradition of researching America’s past Halloween marketplace. The 2nd reference guidebook feature article examines Dennison publications with significant finds from Framingham History Center. Also there is information on B. Shackman & Co, E. Rosen Co., and certain German imports. Official copies of this 9″x6″ softcover 32-page book (with color and black & white illustrations) include poster and 2 timeline cards.
Research pulled from the pages of nearly 500 catalogs (1900-1979) housed in one archive reference library, THR, Vol 1 is first in a series of new guide books to offer critical perspective of the traditional narrative surrounding vintage Halloween markets, by result offering important data to collectors. Official copies of 9″x6″ softcover 32-page guide (in color, black & white illustrations) include poster and 4 bookmark-tallies.

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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