‘Wienerisches Diarium’ was a Hungarian newspaper printing from 1703, still in existence it is now printed with the title ‘Wiener Zeitung’. On the 21st July 1725 the newspaper was published with the first use of the word vampire in published history. The story was a copy of a manuscript from the Hungarian Gradisker Distrikt, (modern day North West Serbia) detailing the account of a Serbian peasant named Peter Plogojowitz (died 1725) who was believed to have become a vampire after his death. The account written by the Imperial Provisor, (an official of the Austrian administration), named Frombald details how upon the death of Plogojowitz he rose from the grave killing nine people by throttling them. Upon viewing the exhumed the body he records his astonishment that the local vampire beliefs are true, Plogojowitz’s beard and hair had grown, along with new skin and nails, blood was also seen in his mouth. The body was then staked through the heart.
Wienerisches Diarium ‘Vampyri. 1725
Recreation of titlepage with added historical elements. Printed on paper resembling the look and feel of paper from the period the work was produced. Size 8.5" x 11". Printed with archival inks, and packaged in protective sheet.