Something for your home?

Making it onto BBC's web site, Tennants Auctioneers in North Yorkshire, UK, is auctioneering this kit off on June 22:

'One piece in particular, (drawing attention from both the UK and America) is an unusual 19th century vampire slaying kit, which almost complete and in good condition, can be dated to after Bram Stoker wrote the famous Dracula novel, which popularised the vampire character and possibly started the trend of vampire slaying kits. The mahogany casket, complete with percussion cap pistol, steel bullet mould, mallet and stakes, Rosary beads, glass bottles, prayer book dated 1857 and crucifix, which was found in the cellar of the vendors deceased uncle, is in good condition and expected to make £1500-2000. It will certainly be exciting to see where the casket ends up; perhaps with many scenes of Bram Stokers novel being set in the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby, the vampire slaying kit might only make a short journey after the sale. With live internet bidding on the day however, and already genuine international interest, it could end up overseas!.'

These kits have been the subject of discussion on various web sites and blogs, and a whole article was devoted to them in a recent issue of The Fortean Times. Here Jonathan Ferguson writes that the standing record for one of these kits is no less than $26,400! The first one on auction apparently turned up in 1994 at Sotheby's. Fetching $12,000, it probably inspired others to create similar faux kits. Although fake, there are no doubt a number of people out there who would like to have this kind of item. It would certainly inspire some interesting discussions at any party...

Related links: A list of vampire killing kits, Jonathan Ferguson's blog, and one of a number of posts on the subject on The Vampirologist blog.

Thanks to Mr. Ranft for notifying me of this news story.

"Calmet had corresponded with Maria Theresa"

To me there is something anachronistic about forteana in the twenty first century. Charles Fort's collections of strange phenomena remind me of my youth when theories about biblical myths being inspired by UFO visits, claims that the Egyptians knew about electromagnetics, and various parapsychological notions of telekinesis were popular. Still, the magazine The Fortean Times, apparently has an avid audience, and judging from its current issue, some of the articles are pretty well written and researched.

This issue - no 288 - is a special on the 'creatures of the night', including an article on the historical origin of the interest in vampires, i.e. the Serbian vampires of the 1730's, by Dr. Leo Ruickbie. I doubt that readers of this blog will be surprised by most of what he writes, except a claim that Dom Calmet corresponded with Empress Maria Theresa. This is certainly an intriguing angle that I would never have considered. Ruickbie, unfortunately, does not quote any source for this information.

Other articles include an analysis of 'vampire killing kits' and a history of two men who played a key role in  Romanian Dracula tourism.

The Fortean Times is available for purchase and reading digitally.

A collector's item...

This is certainly one of the more curious items for sale on ebay: Van Helsing's diary from 1899-1900 with a description in Italian:

'Meraviglioso diario anticato in pelle nera sbiadita e interamente scritto con pennino d'epoca. Il diario narra della visita del Professor Van Helsing (personaggio realmente esistito? e presente nel Dracula di Stoker) a Venezia nell'autunno del 1899. Qui incontrerà Cesare Lombroso e studierà il fenomeno del vampirismo segnando nel suo diario tutti gli sviluppi e gli incubi nascenti. Il diario qui in vendita, frutto del lavoro di un artigiano del settore è stato redatto con precisione e grande abilità, e al suo interno potete trovare oltre al diario, gli appunti, due foto anticate del professore e di Lombroso, stralci di vecchi articoli, disegni a pastello della laguna di Venezia, un ritratto, disegni di vampiri, antiche incisioni, fiori secchi, una antica mappa di Venezia, un antico telegramma londinese, una busta intestata, un foglio del 1700 che accenna a Dracula, una busta con cera lacca, diversi fogli ripiegati di giornale e tanto altro materiale assolutamente affascinante e soprattutto unico, in quanto, come gia' scritto, il diario è stato costruito in maniera totalmente artigianale e a mano, adoperando man mano che scorrono i giorni del diario, con diversi pennini, per rendere il tutto ancora piu' reale, e con una calligrafia che muta con gli eventi, diventando sempre piu' frettolosa, nervosa e spaventata cosi' come diventano piu' inquietanti i fatti che si sviluppano.

Il diario inizia il 24 ottobre 1899 e termina il 4 febbraio 1900. Ad hoc mancano alcune pagine che risultano strappate o con appunti di appuntamenti.

Vera chicca da collezione per gli amanti del mistero.'

According to the seller, Abraham Van Helsing visited Venice in 1899, and the note book from the time of his visit apparently contains sketches, envelopes, dried flowers, and various other objects. A collector's item, no doubt, and considering the work that has probably gone into creating it, € 246 perhaps is not too expensive. Still, I think there is good reason to be cautious about the other items he has for sale...

It reminds me of the vampire killing kits that you can find at e.g. Ripley's here in Copenhagen, Denmark.