Mysterious 'vampire-slaying kit' including pistol and knife up for auction

A “vampire-slaying kit” containing a pocket-sized pistol and a 19th century copy of the New Testament is going under the hammer.

The gothic-looking container, worth between £2,000 and £3,000, also comes packed with pliers, rosary and a bottle of shark’s teeth.

Also inside the metal-bound box is an ivory-robed wolf carrying rosary beads, as well as a blue phial with mysterious contents and a silver-bladed pocket knife.

And inside the lid is an oval enamel painting that depicts the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The kit is up for auction in Derbyshire
Image:
The kit is up for auction in Derbyshire

There’s no record of the box’s origin, but the 1842 copy of the New Testament within does bear the inscription of an Isabella Swarbrick.

The current owner from the West Midlands, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that they do not know very much about its history.

“I have had it in my own collection for three years now,” they said.

“I bought it from a large antiques fair in Newark-on-Trent.

“I loved the look of the Gothic box and, when I opened it, I just had to have it. I thought it was so interesting – a great conversation piece.”

A robed wolf, crucifix and picture of the resurrection of Christ are among the items in the box
Image:
A robed wolf, crucifix and picture of the resurrection of Christ are among the items in the box

Charles Hanson, owner of the Derbyshire-based Hansons Auctioneers, the firm selling the box, said: “People are fascinated by stories of vampires, hence their continued appearance in films and on TV today.

“They have been part of popular culture for more than 200 years.

“The publication of John Polidori’s The Vampyre in 1819 had a major impact and that was followed by Bram Stoker’s 1897 classic Dracula.”

The box could fetch up to £3,000
Image:
The box could fetch up to £3,000

He added: “However, a belief in vampires and strange superstitions goes back even further and persists to this day.

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

“Items of religious significance, such as crucifixes and Bibles, were said to repel these monsters, hence their strong presence in the kit we have found.”

The box will be sold online on 16 July, as part of a five-day-long antiques and collector’s auction.

source: skynews.com