Vampire Killing Kits From the Late Nineteenth Century

Auction hounds are snapping up "vampire killing kits" and "vampire hunting kits" manufactured by a nineteenth century quack named Ernst Blomberg. The kits, which have been found in Australia and sold by at least two auction houses (including Southebys, reportedly for $12,000), include silver bullets, a wooden stake, holy water, and other important vampire-destroying items. […]

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Auction hounds are snapping up "vampire killing kits" and "vampire hunting kits" manufactured by a nineteenth century quack named Ernst Blomberg. The kits, which have been found in Australia and sold by at least two auction houses (including Southebys, reportedly for $12,000), include silver bullets, a wooden stake, holy water, and other important vampire-destroying items. Back in 2003, Gunbroker.com auctioned off one of the kits, and posted a transcription of the instructions that came with the original box:

Vampire Killing Kit

The accoutrements for the destruction of the Vampire

This box contains the items considered necessary for the protectionof persons who travel into certain little known countries in EasterEurope where the populace are plagued with a peculiar manifestation ofevil, known as Vampires... Professor Ernst Blomberg respectfullyrequests that the purchaser of this kit carefully studies his book.
Should evil manifestations become apparent, he is then equiped to dealwith them efficiently... Professor Blomberg wishes to announce hisgrateful thanks to that well known gunmaker of Liege, NicholasPlombeur, whose help in compiling of the special items, the silverbullets,etc., has been most efficient. The items enclosed are asfollows...

1. An efficient pistol with its usual accoutrements

2. A quantity of bullets of the finest silver

3. Powdered flowers of garlic (one phial)

4. Flour of Brimstone (one phial)

5. Wooden stake (Oak)

6. Ivory crucifix

7. Holy Water (one phial)

8. Professer Blomberg's New Serum

One wonders most about item #8. A "new serum"? Everything else seems perfectly reasonable, at least to this avid watcher of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm guessing that these vampire killing kits were all over the place in junk shops of the nineteenth century, and that they're coming to our attention now mostly because browsable auction sites make it easier for the general public to see the crazy shit that routinely gets auctioned off to antiquarians.

"Rare Mid to Late 19th Century Vampire Killing Kit" [via Survival Arts] (Thanks, Laura!)