Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Come on Buffy, let’s go party!

AP[ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2003 01:00:27 PM ]

NEW YORK: Just in time for Halloween, a vampire-killing kit complete with a wooden stake and 10 silver bullets sold for $12,000 at auction Thursday.

The kit, a walnut box that also contained a crucifix, a pistol, a rosary and vessels for garlic powder and various serums, was bought by an anonymous phone bidder. (Do you believe in vampires?)

According to Sotheby’s, some experts believe that such kits were commonly available to travellers in Eastern Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries, while others think the kits were made in the early 20th century, possibly to cash in on interest in vampires sparked by the 1897 publication of Bram Stoker’s "Dracula."

Elaine Whitmire, head of 19th century furniture for Sotheby’s, said she believes the kit was assembled in the early 20th century and sold to travelers as a souvenir.

"My opinion is this is a memento that you bought while you were in Europe," she said. "I doubt it was cheap to buy."

A label on the kit says: "This box contains the items considered necessary for persons who travel into certain little known countries of Eastern Europe where the populace are plagued with a particular manifestation of evil known as Vampires."

The vampire killing kit was part of Sotheby’s sale of 19th century furniture and decorative works of art.

The auction house did not identify the seller of the kit. The price includes Sotheby’s auction house’s commission.