You’re right about that, but people weren’t entirely devoid of fun either. I could imagine something like this possibly being created as a novelty or gag gift in response to the popularity of Bram Stoker’s book, much as people enjoy making Harry Potter wands or replica Dr. Strange pendants today.
I still agree that it’s more likely than not that this isn’t as old as the auction house claims, but on the off chance that it is I would have thought it to be rare enough to have an estimated worth well above the $3k that the auction house was expecting.
Were this an ebay listing, the pictures would have been considered quite meager.
This is how the “headpiece from the staff of ra” was listed for auction. Many many photos, photos from the movie, even a video from a well known TV personality.
Just FYI, folks. Vampire superstition existed as far back as the Middle Ages, because the plague often left the sick and the dead with bleeding mouth lesions.
Here’s an 1888 essay on Vampire superstitions that Stoker probably read
It’s possible that this kit contains elements that are specific to Stoker’s conception of the vampire-- or even elements that came from the later films and plays.
Sale room notice
To clarify the contents of the box were assembled in the second half of the 20th century.
So this might have some historical interest because it could be one of the first replica vampire hunting kits created in the 1980’s or 90’s, that’s about it though.
