Discover a delightful collection of free, public domain vintage Halloween postcards—featuring witches, jack-o’-lanterns, skeletons & quirky autumn traditions, ready for your creative downloads.
The long days of summer are beginning to shorten. The end of the school holiday is insight. My thoughts are now turning to autumn and the festivities that accompany this season. Here, I have curated a collection of vintage Halloween postcards in readiness for one of the season’s most significant celebrations.
Although Halloween celebrations in the UK grow larger every year, they are nowhere near as impressive and widespread as those in the US.
“Trick-or-treating” originates from ” guiding” in Scotland and Ireland. Guising requires people to go door-to-door and perform a song or poem without threat. The term “trick-or-treating” was commonly adopted in the 1980s.
It was actually due to the 19th-century Scottish and Irish immigrants that Halloween became a major holiday in North America.
Initially, the holiday was confined to these communities, but gradually it became more mainstream. By the start of the 20th century, people of all social, racial and religious backgrounds celebrated Halloween coast to coast.
Copyright Free Vintage Halloween Images
This charming vintage Halloween postcard collection celebrates everyday things linked with this fun holiday, such as witches, Jack-O-Lanterns, skeletons, and trick-or-treating.
Click the title link above the image to download a higher resolution of the vintage Halloween postcard.
The Vintage Halloween Postcards 1-10
1. A Thrilling Vintage Halloween
A vintage Halloween postcard. Three black cats flying through the air with three Jack-O-Lanterns.
The Jack-O-Lantern got its name from the Irish legend of Stingy Jack. Jack was an Irish drunk who bargained with the devil and was doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way.
Black cats are often associated with Halloween. This is probably because in many cultures, they symbolise bad luck. Additionally, black cats are often associated with witches.
The vintage Halloween postcard, dated 1910, is from the Missouri History Museum.
2. A Demon On A Jack-O-Lantern
Another 1910 postcard from the Missouri History Museum.
The antique Halloween postcard shows a little demon sitting on a Jack-O-Lantern.
3. Halloween Pleasures – Apple Bobbing
Apple bobbing is an Autumn game often played at Halloween. The idea of the game is to pick up an apple from a bowl of water without using your hands. As apples float in the water, this is a lot harder than it looks. The apple bobber often ends up with a very wet face and hair. I think this is partly why children love playing the game and find it hilarious.
A delightful vintage Halloween image of a young girl brushing her hair in the mirror.
If it weren’t for the Jack-O-Lantern and the delightful poem, you wouldn’t know it was a Halloween postcard.
On Halloween, Oh mercy me,
The awfulness that one can see,
Ghosts and goblins, and witches too,
And other things to frighten you.
A 1900 postcard by Wolfe Company, New York.
5. 1880 Vintage Halloween Postcard
This delightful vintage Halloween scene is from the collection at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum.
The postcard depicts a mother and daughter looking out the window on Halloween. Whilst a witch and her black cat fly past on a broom.
Another delightful vintage Halloween postcard from the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum collection.
If you note that only one lady is looking in the mirror, but two faces are reflected. I assume this implies that the second reflection is a ghost.
Another 1910 vintage Halloween Postcard from the Missouri History Museum shows a witch riding a broomstick pulled by a jack-o-lantern and a black cat.
8. 1900 Witch and Jack-O-Lantern
A vintage Halloween postcard from the Toronto Public Library from 1900.
The card features two classic Halloween icons: a witch and a Jack-O-Lantern.
9. Jack-O-Lantern Driving A Car
Another vintage Halloween postcard from the Missouri History Museum (1908), complete with the pun “You Auto Have a Happy Hallowe’en.”
Girl blowing a horn with three Jack-o-Lanterns, 1910.
Halloween Postcards 11-20
Two boys carrying a large Jack-O-Lantern
Witch on a broomstick, with a cat, owl and bats.
15. Jack-O-Lantern Hanging on a Broom
Black cats, carved pumpkins, and hanging apples bring classic Halloween charm to this vintage postcard.
A little girl hiding behind a witch’s mask with a rather sweet little poem.
19. Devils With Pumpkin Cauldrons
Classic Halloween imagery comes alive with bubbling cauldrons, glowing Jack-O’-Lanterns, and red devils wielding tridents against the night sky.
Young witch with black cats, brooms and pumpkins.
Vintage Postcards 21-26
Family of black cats, with a group of children hiding behind a large Jack-o-Lantern.
Haunted house and bats.
Cherubs and demons dancing together.
Other Halloween Ideas
If you’re looking for more artistic paintings, take a look at this wonderful collection of vintage Halloween art. Both collections would be great to display in one of these upcycled Halloween shadow boxes.
For more spooky vintage Halloween images, check out the Halloween patent prints, vintage skeleton illustrations and vintage skull drawings on Pictureboxblue. There is also a fun collection of spooky bat illustrations that would look great on the wall for Halloween.
If you liked these vintage Halloween postcards, you’ll probably love our other collections on Pictureboxblue.
- Antique Scandinavian Christmas Cards
- Vintage Valentine Cards
- Vintage Easter Postcards and Favour Boxes
- Circus Posters To Download
- Vintage Seed Packets Art
If you fancy, you can Buy Me A Coffee Here.
Kimberly
Tuesday 9th of September 2025
These are awesome! Thanks for sharing these lovely vintage postcards with us!
claire
Wednesday 10th of September 2025
Thank you, so much, glad you liked them.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello
Wednesday 25th of September 2024
You got my attention with just the mention of vintage postcards. I have always enjoyed looking at vintage postcards to get an idea of what things were like in history in styles and thoughts. This post will be a feature this week. Thanks for sharing it. #HomeMattersParty
claire
Wednesday 25th of September 2024
Thank you so much and thanks for the feature.
Niki | Life as a LEO Wife
Thursday 15th of September 2022
What an adorable collection of vintage cards! Thanks for sharing on Happiness is Homemade. I hope you'll stop by & share on Crafty Creators Link Party as well. It's open from Thursdays through Monday nights. Have a great weekend!
claire
Friday 16th of September 2022
Thank you so much and thanks for the invite.
Kathy A
Sunday 7th of June 2020
Thank you for all your research. I love vintage postcards, seldom see them, then choose not to afford them when I do;this will let me have some inexpensively!
claire
Tuesday 9th of June 2020
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed them.
Week 246 Sunday's Best
Friday 4th of October 2019
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