When people traveled to Eastern Europe in the 19th century, they went prepared.
The vampire hunting kits allegedly sold to 19th century travelers in eastern Europe contain much of what you would expect: a wooden stake, Bible, crucifix, pistol with lead bullets, gunpowder, garlic, and glass vials that held various concoctions to ward off vampires.
But what you might not have expected is that these kits supposedly predate Bram Stoker’s Dracula and other written accounts of vampires, pointing to the timeless origins of the myths behind these undead bloodsuckers.
Most vampire hunting kits were built after the 1930s as novelty items. There is no evidence proving that the kits are Victorian-era antiques.
2 of 9
The kits were probably sold to the tourists who flocked to places like Transylvania in the wake of the popularity of novels like Dracula.
3 of 9
The most common method of killing vampires is with the stake. Otherwise you can try beheading or scaring the demonic creature off with a cross. Garlic will ward vampires off, as well as the lesser known herbs wild rose and hawthorn.
4 of 9
Ripley's professes to own the largest collection of these kits, though none of them have been proven to have been used by people in the 19th century trying to protect themselves from vampires.
5 of 9
Some kits confuse their mythology: One kit contained silver bullets, even though silver bullets are traditionally used to kill werewolves not vampires in folklore.
6 of 9
Supposed "authentic vampire-killing kits," have been sold at auction houses like Sotheby's for as much as $12,000, even though they're all fakes -- or as Jonathan Ferguson, a curator at the National Museum of Arms and Armour puts it, "invented artifacts akin to stage, screen or magician's props."
7 of 9
Included in this particular kit is an especially suspicious letter from a vampire hunter explaining that he "disptached" the vampire who killed someone's daughter.
8 of 9
The kits typically contain holy water, a pistol, and even vials of garlic power. The kits are thrown together with some genuine antiques, while other items "artificially-aged." So even though some components might be Victorian, the kits were actually put together much later.
The Incredible Vampire Hunting Kit From The 1800’s
View Gallery
Next, read the horrifying true story of Elizabeth Bathory, "The Blood Countess", who is often cited as the closest the world has ever come to having a real-life Dracula. Then, check out some fascinating facts about Frankenstein author Mary Shelley, whose life was almost as tragic and terrifying as her most famous work.
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
Based in Brooklyn, New York, John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of expertise include modern American history and the ancient Near East. In an editing career spanning 17 years, he previously served as managing editor of Elmore Magazine in New York City for seven years.
