An evolving collection of Vintage Halloween Collectibles book references by The Halloween Retrospect offers guides for collectors, as print publications for sale from the archive library online bookstore - including art books, research digests, posters, postcards, and crossword puzzle games. Newest book for March 2025 is The Halloween Retrsospect, Volume 4!

References for Collectors

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Reference Books for
Vintage Halloween collectors

Updated April 23, 2025

If you are just now encountering The Halloween Retrospect archive library and its in-house publishing of Halloween reference material, please see the Home page (for introduction and a list of numerous blog entries) or check out various pages such as About or Publications. In the meantime, this blog entry will offer a review of the past year’s output of books and digests.

The latest vintage Halloween collectibles reference guide that old-school collectors won't tell you about - The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 offers new information about Tessin, Milton Bradley, David C. Cook, John Wilcox, and Mabel Betsy Hill - with crossword and a vintage-style decoration by Bindlegrim - now for sale in etsy bookstore!

From THR there is now one art-book style survey (Halloween Artifacts, V!: Lighting) and four research digests (The Halloween Retrospect V1, V2, V3, V4)… all offered for the reference shelf of vintage Halloween collectors. These books examine subjects by way of primary sources that include ~625 catalogs of consumer-vendor materials 1900-1980, as well as company materials across US archives (Framingham History Center for THR, V2 ,or Hallmark Archives for THR, V3).

The first new vintage Halloween collectibles book in nearly a decade and the first to offer visible primary sources to collectors - Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting features a large format visual reference guide of autumn lanterns, shades, and diecuts that glow-in-the dark whether items of pulp, paper, glass, metal, or plastic. On sale from THR etsy bookstore!
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.

All new books appear in publications along with previous volumes all offering an Etsy checkout link. Why Etsy? This author sells via THR Etsy Bookstore to control quality, manage applicable taxes as required for sales, and ship in a sturdy box at your chosen postal rate. Note, this also gives the author a chance to include additional material such as postcards, fold-out posters, or (as in THR, V3) a Halloween-themed crossword puzzle.

THR’s Books 2023-2024
A Quick Review

THR, VOLUME 4 Research Digest (March 2025):

The newest recent digest edition, The Halloween Retrospect Volume 4 features a stylistic study of early art educator Louise D. Tessin (and others) and the possibility of certain contributions toward early 20th-century Milton Bradley stained glass window transparencies. Shorter items include a look at Halloween products in Sunday school catalogs, John Wilcox items, and visual by Mabel Betsy Hill. Official copies of this 9″x6″ softcover 34-page book (with color and black & white illustrations) include free Bindlegrim decor and crossword puzzle..

Great new research book on vintage Halloween collectibles by THR - Volume 4 digest features Louise D. Tessin, Milton Bradley, David Cook, John Wilcox, Mabel Betsy Hill, and more including a new holiday-themed crossword and retro-1940's decoration by Bindlegrim.
Preview book images of great new vintage Halloween collectibles guide for sale from The Halloween Retrospect archive library - Volume 4 features extensive data for articles about Milton Bradley and more, as well as a new crossword puzzle, and a vintage-style window decoration created special by artist Bindlegrim.
Customer five-star review from etsy bookstore purchase of Vintage Halloween collectibles guide by The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 featuring Tessin, Milton Bradley, Cook, Wilcox, and Hill as well as bonus materials like a holiday-themed crossword puzzle and vintage-style Halloween decor by artist Bindlegrim.
Yet another customer positive review rating of purchase from The Halloween Retrospect etsy bookstore for Volume 4 vintage Halloween collectibles guides featuring Tessin, Milton Bradley, Cook, Wilcox, Betsy Hill, and more with bonus crossword puzzle and vintage-style decoration window by artist Bindlegrim.
Review for great bonus material included by Bindlegrim in new Halloween archive library research series The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 which has data and information about the past marketplace of the holidays.
Great reviews for the research work on sale from etsy bookstore of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 featuring old illustrations, art, and vintage Halloween collectibles decor including new works like a crossword by author and decor by Bindlegrim.
Five-store purchase review of buyer on etsy THR bookstore for Volume 4 from archive library research series featuring vintage Halloween collectibles by Tessin, Milton Bradley, Cook, Wilcox, and Betsy Hill to name a few - including crossword and vintage-style decor by retro artist Bindlegrim.
Many five-star positive reviews have been given to The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 4 vintage collectibles research guidebook that includes works by Tessin, Milton Bradley, Cook, Wilcox, and more from 1920, 1930, 1940, and more with puzzle flier and special insert decor from Bindlegrim vintage-style artist.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Note that official copies include a Bindlegrim window decoration and crossword puzzle.
Introduction shortened (pg. 4)
Bradley’s Creatives – Part 1 A Short History of Holiday Visionary Louise D. Tessin (pg. 6) 
Bradley’s Creatives – Part 2 Tessin, Her Contemporaries, and a Colorful Invention (pg. 14)
October’s Cathedral A Secret Cache Of Hallowe’en For Sunday School (pg. 25) 
John Wilcox & Hallowe’en Up-to-date, Unique, & Splendid Portrayals of Spirit (pg. 28).
The Witches’ DanceMore Hallowe’en Chaos by Artist Mabel Betsy Hill (pg. 31) 
Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 – Vol. 4 (pg. 33) from first to fourth digests.

HALLOWEEN ARTIFACTS,
VOLUME 1: LIGHTING
Survey Book (Sept 2024):

The newest reference from THR is Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting and this book heads off in a new direction, giving readers a image-driven art-book-style survey of vintage Halloween objects of light (re: lanterns, shades, or glow-in-the-dark inks). This 8-1/2″x11″ softcover book centers around a 100-page collection of such collectibles, and includes for each: 1) a large full-color feature photo bigger than 7″x6″, together with a 2) notes that include a timeline tally of dates appearing in old novelty merchandise catalogs, and 3) a clip of the item from one of those select vintage sources.

The smiling jack-o-lantern on the front of the new vintage Halloween collectibles book tells you to expect a great time with this big picture-heavy book of full-color 114 page guide to the 1900-1970 worlds of lanterns, shades, and luminescent inks from the olde time markets of American holiday history. (The Halloween Retrospect archive library)
New reference full-color 114-page 8-1/2x11 book from THR archive library is a survey named Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting that offers a vintage collector a guide with large images, vintage catalog samples, and a timeline of vintage novelty merchandise catalog dates. (The Halloween Retrospect archive collection).
Book review of new vintage Halloween collectibles book by The Halloween Retrospect is getting 5-star positive ratings for reference guides of antique and vintage holiday lighting (Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1, Lighting).
Vintage Halloween collector guide book featuring antiques from 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's is getting great 5-star reviews from book buyers on THR's etsy bookstore - for sale now online.
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.
Five-star book review for The Halloween Retrospect's new vintage holiday collectibles art-book survey called Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting that features antique and vintage objects (1920's, 1930's, etc) that glow in the dark from autumn's of the past.
New vintage Halloween collectibles guide book with a 5-star positive rating from buyer for paperback large-scale 114 pages with images of lanterns, light shades, and glowing ink diecuts from 1900-1979 as seen from The Halloween Retrospect archive library together with data such as catalog appearances and newspaper clippings.
Customer purchase review with 5-star rating for vintage Halloween collectibles guide book for old and antique jack-o-lanterns, paper shades, and glow-in-the-dark diecuts from 1900-1970 from archive library publications of The Halloween Retrospect.
Parade lantern jack-o-lantern of tin shown here with vintage Halloween collectibles book Halloween Artifacts, Volume 1: Lighting with a five star review for new reference guide book featuring vintage lanterns, shades, and glow-in-the-dark diecuts by THR archive library.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword by Charles Beck (pg. 4).
Harvesting an Ember Glimmers of the Past in Lanterns, Shades, & Luminescent Inks  (pg. 5).
Introduction Revisiting a Foreword from Research Series THR, Vol. 1 (pg. 6).
Halloween Artifacts: Lighting THRs Archive Collection Synchronized with Library Data (pg. 10).
Sources & Additional Reading A Quick List of Selected Publications (pg. 13).

THR, VOLUME 3 Research Digest (June 2024):

This recent digest edition, The Halloween Retrospect Volume 3 features a two-part article that in Part 1 studies haunted house ephemera (early-20th-century to mid-century) and in Part 2 features mid-century pieces by Gibson and centerpieces by Hallmark as innovations in paper collectibles. The book also has small articles on the 60’s wave of sound effects vinyl and a list of catalog terminology.

Page sample of vintage Halloween collectibles book with newest edition of Volume 3 includes haunted house ephemera, Hallmark Card Inc, vintage 1960-1970 vinyl, and a dictionary of catalog terms.
New vintage reference book for the vintage Halloween collector shelf features research on haunted house ephemera, Hallmark, sound effects vinyl, and catalog terminology, as well as a crossword puzzle game flier.
THR's archive library bookstore review of Halloween Retrospect's 3rd edition of vintage Halloween collector digest featuring a look at haunted houses from early to mid-century Hallmark designs.
Vintage Halloween collector reference book features a look at haunted houses from early 20th century to mid-century, particularly with Hallmark pop-up designs in the 1960's and 1970's.
Collectors vintage Halloween reference tool from THR archive library featuring haunted houses and Hallmark designs in the 3rd edition The Halloween Retrospect.
Small research digests with 32-pages of source material and color images (with great customer reviews) available from THR's online bookstore found on Etsy.
The Halloween Retrospect customer review from online Etsy bookstore featuring digests from the research archive library and this 3rd volume released July 2024.
Groovy vintage haunted house on the cover of this 5-star reviewed book by Etsy customers is by The Halloween Retrospect, and Volume 3 features research into collectibles from early 20th-century to mid-century featuring Gibson and Hallmark circa 1950's, 1960's, and 1970's.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Note official copies contain Hallmark centerpieces poster and crossword puzzle.
Letterbox (pg. 4)
Introduction Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5).
Halloween Haunts – Part 1 The Witch’s Cottage and Spook House Additions (pg. 8).
Halloween Haunts – Part 2 Engineered Mansions and Hallmark Innovations (pg. 14).
Haunted House Timeline Hallmark Haunted Houses 1950-1980: Poster & Key (pg. 25).
Haunted Vinyl Sixties Wave of Haunted House Recordings (pg. 27).
The Catalog Audience Understanding Readership to Define Content (pg. 29).
Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 -Vol. 3 (pg. 31).

THR, VOLUME 2 Research Digest (December 2023):

The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 2 continues the tradition of researching America’s past Halloween marketplace. The guidebook’s feature article examines Dennison publications with significant finds (about serial numbers on publications) from Framingham History Center. As well, V2 offers information on B. Shackman catalogs, E. Rosen cards, and certain German imports (as like those on the cover art).

The second edition of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 2 offers a study of Dennison publication serial numbers, a study of Shackman catalogs, and more on Rosen and German imports.
Reference guidebook for vintage Halloween collectibles, volume 2, is great information about Dennison, Shackman, Rosen, and German imports.
With research assisted by Framingham History Center and Dennison MFG publishing archives, this 5-star vintage Halloween guide book was made possible by The Halloween Retrospect for sale on Etsy online bookstore.
German skittles or table decorations are part of the research found in this vintage Halloween collectibles guidebook by THR research library which holds over 550 vintage catalogs to assist in the various digest volumes available from the online bookstore on Etsy.
Another great review of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 2 vintage Halloween collector guide - a reference for those who like deep dives into archive materials that get at the heart of antique holiday markets of America's past.
Vintage and Antique Halloween collector reference book by THR archive library with articles featuring Dennison history particularly with a study of edition numbers from 1910's, 1920's, 1930's, 1940's.
Cover art with customer review 5-star of antique and vintage Halloween collectibles guide book from the archive library of The Halloween Retrospect - collector, researcher, writer, artist, and publisher.
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.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Note that official copies include a Dennison poster and Shackman postcards.
Letterbox (pg. 4)
Introduction Statement of Intent, Regarding Source (pg. 5).
Decrypting Dennison Serial Number Guide Featuring Autumn Publication (pg. 10).
Shackman’s 70 / 72 Peculiar Catalogs from the Tens & Thirties (pg. 20).
Skittle or Decor The New Identity Crisis for Vintage Figures (pg. 24).
Trix or Treats at Sears Rosen in Midcentury Midseason Fall Catalogs (pg. 28).
Index The Halloween Retrospect, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 (pg. 32).

THR, VOLUME 1 Research Digest (July 2023):

With research pulled from the pages of nearly 500 catalogs (1900-1979) housed in one archive library, The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 is the first in a series of new guide books (in digest form) to offer critical perspective of the traditional narrative surrounding vintage Halloween markets, and by result offering important information to collectors in the field.

Book sample pages for vintage Halloween collector guidebook first edition featuring articles on school supplies, Western Novelty, witch decorations, and German imports.
The first edition of The Halloween Retrospect is volume 1 including poster and four tally cards centering on market research of the 1900-1979 timeframe of school supplies, Western Novelty of Denver, witch decor, and German imports.
Sold out first edition of The Halloween Retrospect Volume 1 is now in its second printing as a popular vintage Halloween collectibles guide for holiday collections that featuring research books on their shelf.
Five-star customer review for sold out first edition of The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1 from June 2023 - a vintage Halloween collectibles guide for those needing more research data from catalog sources.
Etsy online book review for vintage Halloween collectibles guide written by researcher, editor, author, collector at The Halloween Retrospect.
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.
THR, Volume 1 vintage Halloween collector book with Etsy online bookstore review in the foreground of original cover art by Bindlegrim.
Wicked witch in the woods holds a lit Jack O'Lantern pumpkin at night on this book cover featuring art by Bindlegrim with a 5-star customer review for the book in the foreground. (The Halloween Retrospect, Volume 1).


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Note that official copies include bookmark-tallies and a March Brothers poster.
Letterbox (pg. 4).
Introduction Positions for Context, Statement of Intent, Regarding Sources (pg. 5) .
Normal Halloween Holiday Novelties & Early Twentieth Century Youth (pg. 10).
Western Novelty Co. 1928-1990 Carnival, Concession, & Bazaar Supplies – Colorado (pg. 17).
Timeline for Witches A Journey of Two Witches: United States & Germany (pg. 20).
Ornamenten Groteske The Enigmatic History of German Diecuts (pg. 26).
Craw-Bogle Trader a proposal for off-market collecting (p. 32).

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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