Those paper black cats, grinning pumpkins and jointed skeletons that people tape up for Halloween are not just seasonal clutter. Vintage versions from the 1920s through the 1970s now sell for roughly $20 to $500.

The company behind many of them is Beistle, and its designs go all the way back to 1921.

Overstreet Access put the brand in the spotlight with its feature Beistle Halloween decorations, published just as trick or treat season wrapped up.

Over 1,000 Designs And One Big Idea In Tissue Paper

Beistle has produced more than 1,000 designs for decorations and party pieces. It teamed up with the Paper Novelty Company and became a pioneer of honeycomb style tissue decorations.

You may know the look even if you never knew the name. Honeycomb pieces fold flat for storage, then open into a round, three dimensional shape, usually built from tissue paper and cardstock.

Over time the company moved into Valentine’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations. But Halloween was its first seasonal line, and it stayed its most popular.

The Familiar Cast: Black Cats, Witches, Bats And Skeletons

The designs lean on classic Halloween imagery. Jack-o’-lanterns, black cats, witches, skeletons, spiders and bats fill the catalog.

Overstreet Access says Beistle’s paper decorations had a major influence on how Americans decorate for Halloween. That is a big claim, but one look at a vintage party table, with flat die-cut figures taped to a wall, shows how many homes shared the same style.

The article also draws a fun line. Loving Halloween and loving horror, it says, are not the same thing. Beistle collecting suits people who enjoy the playful side of the holiday without the scares.

Four Kinds Of Beistle Items You Will Run Into

Collectors usually sort the pieces into a few groups.

• Honeycomb decorations, which are spherical and built from tissue paper and cardstock.
• Die-cut decorations, flat images cut into shapes. The article says these are among the easier Beistle pieces to find.
• Jointed figures, with full bodies made from flat cardstock pieces fastened at the arms and legs so they can be posed.
• Party items such as banners, favors and games.

Because die-cuts turn up most often, they are a great starting point for new collectors. Honeycomb pieces and jointed figures can be harder to find in good shape, since paper tears and fades.

Prices Run From $20 To $500

According to the feature, vintage Beistle pieces from the 1920s through the 1970s sell for roughly $20 to $500. It adds that the range suits most collectors’ budgets.

That price spread is the whole appeal. You can start with a single cat for the cost of lunch and still be part of the hobby, or save for a rarer piece when you spot one.

Several things push a price up or down: the age of the design, the condition of the paper, the brightness of the colors, whether it is complete, and how many people want that particular figure.

Why Paper Decorations Caught On

As Halloween parties grew popular in the early twentieth century, hosts wanted affordable ways to dress up a room. Paper was cheap, light and easy to ship, which made it ideal for decorations that families could buy at a five and dime or a stationery shop.

That also explains why so many survive in folded form. People packed them away every November and brought them out again every fall, sometimes for decades.

Today those same boxes of faded paper turn up in basements and estate sales. A box that looks like trash to a family clearing out a house may hold a few pieces collectors want.

A Closer Look At The Honeycomb Pumpkin

Of all the Beistle styles, the honeycomb pumpkin may be the most recognized. When the tissue layers are pulled open, it forms a rounded globe that hangs from a cord. When closed, it lies flat in a box.

Look at the creases, the glue points and the color. Strong colors, crisp folds and intact cords mean the piece has been stored well. Heavy dust, brown stains or crumbling edges mean it has been through a rough few decades.

Because tissue is delicate, even a small tear can lower the price. Handle with clean, dry hands and open them slowly.

How To Hunt For Vintage Halloween Paper

This is a perfect time of year to shop, because stores are discounting seasonal goods and sellers are packing away their displays.

• Search antique malls, estate sales and church rummage sales, which often have boxes of holiday decorations.
• Check inside old holiday boxes, party supply bags and even school craft bins, where paper decorations were often stored.
• Look closely at the paper. Genuine age shows as even toning and soft edges, while modern copies may look bright white.
• Check for fading, water stains, tears and missing pieces, especially on honeycomb pumpkins.
• Compare with sold prices from reputable sources before paying a high price, because a similar figure may be easy to find.

When you bring your finds home, treat them gently. Store paper decorations flat or loosely folded in acid free boxes, away from sunlight, moisture and attics that bake in the summer.

Avoid tape and glue on vintage paper. Hang pieces with removable putty or display them in a shadow box where nothing touches the surface.

Display them only for a few weeks each year if possible, since light slowly fades printing. A long season of fun is worth more than a permanent display that wears the colors out.

Halloween is over for now, but the hunt for the next great cat or skeleton can begin right away. Just remember that the best pieces tend to turn up where no one is looking, in a box labeled “misc.”

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