This hand of human bones sold for $223 at a pre-Halloween auction in New Jersey. It was one of hundreds of bizarre items assembled by a collector who had a fascination with death. His obsession led to an unusual collection of voodoo items, vampire-killing kits, old-fashioned weaponry, taxidermied spiders and other insects – and several human bones. The collector also amassed artwork, sheet music, post-mortem photographs and books with subjects that included Jack the Ripper, medical quackery, surgical mistakes, poisoners and pirates.

Here some of the surprising items and their prices:

  • Partial human skull, 7 by 5 inches, $461
  • Human pelvic bone, 10 by 7 inches, $223
  • Human foot bones, 9 1/2 inches, $123
  • 19th Century Vampire hunting kit in wooden coffin box with wooden stakes, holy water, garlic and more, 61 1/2 by 14 3/4 inches, $11,070.
  • 19th Century Voodoo kit in wooden box, possibly belonging to a Voodoo Priestess, that includes wax doll, skull, claw, shell, mystical herbs and more, 7 by 23 1/2 inches, $2,460.

Photo is courtesy of Sterling Associates Inc. of Closter, N.J. The Danse Macabre auction was held October 22, 2014. Items and prices are posted on Liveauctioneers.com.