In terms of "collecting Halloween", there are really only a handful of categories: cards or other ephemeral, costumes, and props.

CARDS AND EPHEMERAL

Ephemera is a term used to embrace a wide range of minor, everyday documents, most intended for one-time or short-term use, including postcards, broadsides, and posters, photographs, etc. In the Victorian era, especially, collecting trade cards, greeting cards, and chromolithographs for pasting into scrap albums was a popular pastime for both young and old. Today as in years past, items from earlier times that have somehow survived to delight, our eyes, feed our minds, and offer unique windows into our ancestors' lives interest us as collectors.

When purchasing cards or other ephemeral, it is important to make sure that what you are getting is the real deal and not a reproduction. Make sure you read the descriptions carefully. The onus is not on the seller, the onus is on you! What may appear in the title and picture to be a cute little Victorian era pin card may actually be just that - but is not from the Victorian era - it is a reproduction of an original that appeared in the Victorian era. Read carefully and be careful.

When collecting in any field, condition is of the utmost importance. Cards are no different, Cards that have been stuck into albums or with traces of glue on them will not be as valuable as perfect specimens. When it comes to moveable or mechanical cards, those that open out to give a three-dimensional effect, or those with pull tabs or cotton pulls, must be examined particularly carefully for signs of repair, tears and damage. Cards with 'frosting' (not introduced until the late 1860s), must be original and not 'refrosted'.

PROPS

I personally am not a fan of "cute" Halloween items. I have no interest in cartoon characters like Snoopy or Garfield dressed up in halloween drag or pumpkins. I like my Halloween more old-school: dark and scary. Of course everyone should collect what they like. I'm just telling you what I like. One exception to my rule is hand-made "primitives". These are typically one of a kind hand-made items, or if more than one of a kind, each has its own unique look. Certainly none should be the same because if they are, you can be sure they are not the real deal. Items can include skull rattles made of paper mache and hand painted, or cats with arched backs made of stained muslin that is painted, baked, and waxed. Another name for this style is grunge or grubby. Please keep in mind that just because something is called "primitive" that does not mean it is old. Primitive is a style. It could be old, it could have been made yesterday. Like everything else, you need to make sure you know what it is.

Props come in all shapes and sizes. These can be little jack o lantern candles you can pick up anywhere for a few pennies. They can also be hydraulic powered, full-size creatures that rise up, scream and billow smoke. These typically start a few hundred dollars and rapidly can go to thousands of dollars. I've seen a spectacular skeletal horse and rider that was selling for $8,000 and if I had the money, I probably would have purchased it. When purchasing items like these you also might need to consider where you are going to store all this neat stuff when it isn't Halloween (unfortunately, 11 months out of the year are not October!). I keep my stuff on three shelves in my garage. I will run out of room on said shelves this year. Not sure what to do next - maybe buy a shed.

Next: Halloween Costumes.