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Real Vampire Hunter Kits From The 1800s

One of the most intriguing mysteries of the 19th century involves the manufacturing and selling of vampire killing kits. Several vampire hunter kits have turned up in recent years, and some have sold for exorbitant amounts of money. The true origin of these vampire kits is shrouded in mystery.

Although it can’t be 100 percent proven, there seems to be historical evidence that vampire hunting kits became popular in western Europe after the release of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1897. Superstitious travelers would supposedly purchase these vampire killer kits in preparation for their perilous travels to Eastern Europe.

More likely intended as souvenirs for rich novelty collectors, these kits would typically include garlic, a bible, stakes, crosses, silver bullets, and glass vials that held various concoctions to ward off vampires. Interestingly, a few vampire hunter kits have shown up with artifacts that predate Bram Stoker’s Dracula and other written accounts of vampires, pointing to the strong oral history component of the vampire legacy.

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