Ellen Clapsaddle vintage Halloween cards

Ellen Clapsaddle was a very popular illustrator in the early 20th century. She was a successful businesswoman and illustrated many postcards and greeting cards. Clapsaddle was noted for her drawings of cute children and these are a few of her Halloween kids.

Ellen Clapsaddle was an American illustrator, but most of her cards were produced in Germany, since the factories were better equipped to produce cards with the rich colors necessary.

Unfortunately, Clapsaddle was in Germany when WWI broke out. She was stranded in the country for the entire war. Her business partners borrowed money to go to Germany and find her as soon as the war was over. But Clapsaddle's health was broken by the experience and she pretty much lost her mind. Clapsaddle ended her life in an institution. But her legacy is the thousands of wonderful images she produced during her lifetime.