Ancient Vampire Killing Kit Sells For Over $20,000 At Auction – National | Globalnews.ca

Vampires beware, there is much more than a few cloves of garlic in this kit.

A vampire-slaying kit once owned by a British aristocrat sold at a Hansons auction last week for £13,000 (more than C$20,250), at least six times its original estimated value.

According to a Hansons Auctioneers press release, the auction triggered a international bidding warwith interest coming from all over the world, including France, the United States and Canada.

The item was purchased by a private and anonymous person in the UK on June 30.

After paying a “buyers premium”, the total cost came to £16,900 (approximately C$26,330).

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The vampire-killing equipment is from the late 19th century, Hansons says. Inside the wooden box are “sacred tools and objects to ward off vampires” including: crucifixes, a pair of matching pistols, a jar of brass powder, holy water, a Gothic Bible, a wooden mallet, a stake, brass candlesticks, rosary beads and papers from the Metropolitan Police. since the moment.

“Interest in this item prior to the auction, both from potential buyers and the media around the world, was intense,” said Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers.

“Objects like this fascinate both collectors and the general public, and this vampire kit had a particularly interesting provenance.”

Hanson said the vampire-killing equipment originally belonged to Lord Hailey, a former administrator of British India. He was Governor of the Punjab from 1924 to 1928 and Governor of the United Provinces from 1928 to 1934.

“Whether out of fear or fascination, it is interesting to learn that a member of the highest aristocratic social order, a man with a seat in the House of Lords, purchased this item,” Hanson said.

In the press release, Hanson said that myths involving vampires are enshrined in European history and still continue today.

“It reminds us that the vampire myth affects people from all walks of life,” he continued.

The anonymous buyer was also quoted in the Hansons press release. “I was stunned and delighted with the result,” they said. “It’s a fascinating article, a conversation piece.” They went on to say that they like the “novelty and historical value” of the vampire killing kit.