untitled design

Old Vampire Killing Kit Triggers Auction Bidding War

Buffy the Vampire Slayer would be proud. A vampire-killing kit that once belonged to a British aristocrat sparked an international bidding war before it sold for six times its estimated price, according to auction house Hansons Auctioneers.

The late 19th century box, which sold for €13,000 on Thursday, belonged to Lord William Malcolm Hailey (1872-1969), a member of the British nobility and former -Administrator of British India.

“Whether out of fear or fascination, it is interesting to know that a member of the highest aristocratic social order, a man with a seat in the House of Lords, acquired this item,” said Charles Hanson, owner of the auction house. “It reminds us that the vampire myth affects people from all walks of life.”

The box contains essential items needed to ward off bloodthirsty vampires, including crucifixes, holy water, wooden stake and hammer, rosary beads, a Gothic Bible, silver candlesticks, matching pistols, and a silver powder flask.

“The task of killing a vampire was extremely serious and historical accounts suggested the need for particular methods and tools,” said Hanson.

“Items of religious significance such as crucifixes and bibles were supposed to repel these monsters, hence their presence in the kit.”

The macabre item attracted bidders from around the world, including France, the United States and Canada. An anonymous bidder from the UK won.

It is unclear whether the buyer will put the kit to use. But Hansons Auctioneers says: “Belief in vampires, an undead creature that is said to need human blood to survive, goes back hundreds of years and persists in some parts of the world today.”

Source: CNN Brasil

You may also like

Get the latest

Stay Informed: Get the Latest Updates and Insights

 

Most popular