If you like a certain holiday-and many Americans enjoy Halloween-it's a good starting point for vintage collecting. First of all, you like the subject matter, and second, with Halloween, you only have to go "back" to the 20th century. Third, aside from unopened paper items or pre-World War II German handmade or "cottage industry" candy containers, the decorations remain inexpensive. Lastly, fans of printing will enjoy the die-cutting, embossing, movable joints, colors, graphics and other mastery of paper forms-and none of it shatters, like the glass ornaments used at Christmas.
 
In Catholic tradition, Halloween (holy evening) started out as the eve before All Saints and All Souls Days, which are solemn days of remembrance, first for martyrs (later all saints) and then for the dearly departed. The holiday had been combined with a prior Celtic tradition, where-at the start of each new year and winter-the ghosts of those who had passed were believed to come back, not all of whom were welcome. Therefore, the people wore masks and lit bonfires.
 
Modern imagery, therefore, combines devils, witches, ghosts, skeletons with symbols of fall, such as jack 'o' lanterns, vegetable people, owls and scarecrows. These were used in the 1920s-1950s to decorate for parties, attended mostly by adults. That is why the earlier modern decorations are pretty scary looking. As it is with Christmas, devil imagery from that time remains highly collectable. Wall decorations were also much smaller then, so size is a tell-tale sign of an early piece. Later, as Halloween rapidly became a children's favorite and trick-or-treating became popular, the images got cuter and larger. Keep in mind that tape, bends, tears, fading and yellowing are all common in these items. If it looks too bright or colorful, the item is most likely newer.
 
The Beistle company of Pennsylvania is known for its sharp looking graphics that stand the test of time and continues to make decorations today. Some of the earlier Beistle items will be marked "H.E. Luhrs", an artist who became president of the company in 1941. 
 
Decorations come in the form of centerpieces (often with crepe paper honeycombs), paper lanterns to surround candles (which often burned), hanging shapes and die-cut wall art. Other items (usually older) from other manufacturers, many German, include tin noisemakers, party favors and candy containers of plastic, cardboard and paper mache. Dennison, another American manufacturer, made "Bogie" party books from 1909 until the '30s, and these books command high prices in today's market.
 
It just might be much more fun for children of all ages to buy inexpensive decorations, with images that they like, and actually use them, rather than to try and find perfect pieces. However, as it was when many of us were young, keep an eye out for skeletons, devils or witches in excellent condition, those life-size (it seemed), popular ones with the crazy fun extendable, movable limbs. Collectors these days often select images that not only are vintage, but also appeal to their "eye" now, so those should retain value.