Vampire kit slays them at auction
A MYSTERIOUS vampire-slaying kit containing objects reputed to ward off the blood-thirsty monsters sparked an international bidding battle – and smashed its auction estimate to smithereens.
The find went under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on Thursday with an estimate of £2,000-£3,000 but it soared to a hammer price of £13,000.
It was purchased by a private UK buyer after a fierce bidding competition. The total price paid with buyer’s premium was £16,900.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Interest in this item ahead of auction was intense and it attracted strong advance bids. Nevertheless, the result exceeded all expectations. Bids came in from all over the world including France, America and Canada. Objects like this fascinate collectors and this one had particularly interesting provenance.
“It originally belonged to Lord Hailey, a British peer and former
administrator of British India. Whether through fear or fascination, it’s interesting to know a member of the highest aristocratic social order, a man with a place in the House of Lords, acquired this item. It reminds us that the vampire myth affects people from all walks of life.”
Items in the late 19th century kit are stamped with Lord Hailey’s initials. The box, which contains tools and holy objects to ward off vampires, features two brass crucifixes on the lid which act as a secret locking device. Inside are more crucifixes, a matching pair of pistols, brass powder flask, holy water, Bible, wooden mallet, stake, brass candlesticks, rosary beads and Metropolitan police paperwork.
Charles said: “William Malcolm Hailey, 1st Baron Hailey (1872-1969) was recognised for his intellect. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was governor of the Punjab from 1924 to 1928 and Governor of the United Provinces from 1928 to 1934. And yet, amid his illustrious career, he was drawn to this vampire-slaying kit. That’s understandable. These objects are both curious and intriguing.
“Belief in vampires, an undead creature said to need human blood to survive, goes back hundreds of years and persists in some parts of the world today. They are enshrined in European folklore. 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 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 presence in the kit.”
The Derbyshire owner of the vampire-slaying kit, who did not wish to be named, said: “I was stunned and delighted by the result. It’s a fascinating item, a conversation piece. I came across it in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, fairly recently. I liked it for its novelty and historical value.”