vampires

Cover your tween’s eyes and ears, because what I’m about to discuss isn’t going to please millions of Twilight fans and vampire fanatics… While the current vampire mythology has twisted the creatures into romanticized objects of love, the original lore dictates the killing of them — the proof of which is up for auction on Halloween at Stevens Auction Company: an authentic antique Vampire Killing Kit.

Antique Rosewood Box Containing Vampire Killing Kit

Inside the beautiful Rosewood case with mother of pearl cross inlay there’s an assortment of items to deal with the undead, including a cleaver, prayer book, Holy water vials, looking glass, silver occult dagger, candles, what looks like some wooden stakes, and a pistol with silver bullets in an ornate coffin case.

Antique Vampire Killing Kit

It’s a stunning display of craftsmanship, yes; but what really fascinates is their existence at all.

These are expensive kits, made for the wealthy; not some cheap and cheesy plastic novelty items. Such luxury concedes a seriousness — a deadly seriousness. These items were made to address deep, dark, primal fears. And then, like our fears often are, they were not thrown away but stored in equally dark and out of the way places… Antique wooden killing kits in the attics of old houses, just waiting for the day when the creatures creep from the attics of our minds.

Vampire Killing Kit, Dating To 1840-1860's

Fascinated, I spoke with Dwight Stevens, of Stevens Auction Company, on the phone yesterday about the antique piece of vampire history.

“I don’t believe in vampires — I’ve never met one. But somebody believed in them, something drove people to believe… From New Orleans to Vicksburg, these old boxes remain.” Stevens has sold four vampire killing kits in his 27 years as an auctioneer, most recently selling one a year ago, in Natchez, Mississippi, for $14,850.

Walnut Case Vampire Killing Kit, Circa 1800, Sold For $14,850

The selling of that boxed kit for ridding oneself of vampires garnered international interest. Wistful buyers from all over the world, as well as bloggers and traditional media folks, contacted the auction house. And they continue to contact Stevens. Recently one person asked Stevens how he came to be an authority on vampires — he laughed, he’s not an expert on vampires. “But,” I said, “you are an authority on vampire killing kits.”

While I think the finding and selling of four of these old superstitious boxes of death is amazing, Stevens contemplates the small number of them which have survived, saying “Maybe the vampires got them.”

Or maybe all the collectors have.

“We contacted Anne Rice about the one we had last year, but we never heard from her; she must be retired,” said Stevens with an audible shrug.

“Or maybe she already has her own kit and she’s all set,” I replied.

More likely, Rice knows what I do: Vampires do not die; real or not, they live on in our obsession with them.

The Vampire Killing Kit, part of at Miss Isabel’s estate, is up for auction in Port Gibson, Mississippi (27 miles South of Vicksburg) on October 31, 2009, by Stevens Auction Company. Reserved seating and phone bids are welcome with advanced arrangements.