Mirror ( vampires have no reflection) Communion wafers and holy water (Burns vampire flesh), silver syringe, 3 bottles of Anti-Vampire Medication to be taken in 3 stages within 1 hour, Garlic flowers to sprinkle around pillow or in hair ( garlic repels vampires), Magnifying glass to examine bites and evidence of Vampires Bullet mold, Silver Cross, Wooden stake, Gun powder and Gun Cotton, small flintlock pistol, silver bullets marked with a cross, Bible

“The vampire killing kits, were originally made in late 19th century to promote Bram Stoker’s Dracula they were sold to travellers and collectors.


The first Vampire kit I saw was in the Mercer museum in Pennsylvania, in that context it seemed to justify the existence of Vampires, even Though I knew that it could not be true, it confused me. The curator at the Mercer categorises it as “Romantic Pastiche”. Original kits fetch as much as $12000 at auction although there are some question marks hanging over the validity of any of these kits, they didnt start appearing on the auction circuit til the early 1980's.


There is an element of wanting to believe, and much like the tradition of religious relics there is the physical proof that helps one make the jump. The piece works like all good propaganda at a subconscious level.
Like most religion it does not stand up to objective questioning. There is a very strong link between the Cold War and the popularity of Horror and science fiction film in the fifties and 60’s. In the US ,Duck and Cover exercises during the Cold War magnified the communist threat in childrens’ mind forever and made it real
Growing up in England, Hammer House of Horror was my first Dracula and the look of the case is a nod to that aesthetic. “

Dominic McGill , New York 2005