Famous Cursed Items
Are you fascinated by the paranormal? If so, you might have heard of some objects that are said to be cursed by evil forces. These objects are believed to bring bad luck, misfortune, or even death to anyone who owns them or comes in contact with them.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the most famous cursed items from around the world and the stories behind them. But be warned: you might not want to get too close to these items, or you might end up regretting it.
Robert the Doll
Robert the doll was a life-size companion to a young boy named Gene Otto in the early 1900s. Several stories about Robert’s origins – and how he became cursed – have circulated throughout the years, but the most common is that Gene’s nanny cursed the doll after a falling out with the boy’s parents. After the casting of this supposed curse, Gene began talking to Robert as if the doll was a real person. Gene’s parents said they could hear their son speaking to the doll all evening, and that they could even hear the doll responding in a guttural voice. Gene would also claim that Robert was responsible for various mischievous acts around the house.
Today, Robert resides at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, FL. Visitors who have taken their picture with Robert without asking permission and those who have made fun of the doll have later reported having terrible bouts of bad luck. Robert even receives letters from past visitors asking him for forgiveness.
The Phone Number 0888-888-888
The (allegedly) cursed phone number 0888-888-888 was disconnected after all three owners of the number died within a decade. The original owner, who happened to own a phone company, passed from cancer, although some rumours claim that a rival gave him radioactive poisoning. The number was then passed down to two different men involved in the mafia who were later gunned down on business trips. The number was subsequently taken out of service, and when people curious about the legend called it, they received a message that the number was “Outside network coverage.”
Thomas Busby’s Chair
Thomas Busby was executed in 1702 after murdering his father-in-law and another man in North Yorkshire, England. According to legend, Busby said before his execution, “May death come to anyone who dare sit in my chair.” After Busby’s death, multiple reports arose of people dying or meeting some other tragedy after sitting in the “cursed” chair.
The chair was eventually donated to the Thirsk Museum, where it was hung on a wall to prevent anyone from sitting on it. However, some visitors still managed to sit on it as a prank or a dare, and many of them met with fatal accidents soon after.
The Hope Diamond
The Hope Diamond is one of the most famous and valuable jewels in the world. It is also one of the most cursed. The diamond was originally part of a larger stone that was stolen from a Hindu temple in India by a French merchant named Jean-Baptiste Tavernier in the 17th century. Tavernier allegedly died from a fever after selling the diamond to King Louis XIV of France.
The diamond passed through several owners over the years, many of whom suffered misfortunes such as bankruptcy, divorce, suicide, murder, and madness. The diamond was eventually acquired by Harry Winston, an American jeweller who donated it to the Smithsonian Institution in 1958. The diamond is still on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., where it attracts millions of visitors every year.
The Dybbuk Box
The Dybbuk Box is a wooden wine cabinet that supposedly contains an evil spirit called a dybbuk, which is a restless soul from Jewish folklore that can possess and haunt people. The box was first sold on eBay in 2003 by Kevin Mannis, who claimed that he bought it at an estate sale of a Holocaust survivor named Havela. Mannis said that he experienced nightmares, strange smells, and noises after bringing the box home. He also said that anyone who came in contact with the box suffered from bad luck or health problems.
Mannis sold the box to several buyers on eBay, all of whom reported similar experiences. The box was eventually bought by Jason Haxton, a museum director who wrote a book about his encounters with the box. Haxton claimed that he suffered from hives, coughing blood, and other ailments after owning the box. He also said that he saw shadowy figures and felt cold breezes around him.
Haxton decided to seal the box in an acacia wood ark lined with gold and hide it in a secret location. He later donated it to Zak Bagans, a paranormal investigator and host of Ghost Adventures, who put it on display at his Haunted Museum in Las Vegas. Bagans said that he felt a burning sensation on his chest and saw a vision of a goat-headed demon after opening the box.
Annabelle the Doll
Annabelle may well be the best-known cursed item on this list. It’s a name that evokes a sense of mystery and unease, largely due to the infamous Raggedy Ann doll that is said to be haunted. The doll’s story began in the 1970s when it was allegedly involved in a series of disturbing events, leading to its confinement in the Occult Museum of Ed and Lorraine Warren in Connecticut.
Despite its innocent appearance, Annabelle is associated with various accounts of paranormal activity, including demonic possession and violent attacks. The legend of Annabelle has not only captivated the public but also inspired a series of horror films, making the doll famous while further cementing its place in the realm of the supernatural.
While the true extent of Annabelle’s powers remains a topic of debate, the cautionary tales surrounding this doll continue to intrigue and alarm those who encounter her story.
These are just some of the most famous cursed items from around the world, but there are many more that are said to have dark histories and powers. Whether you believe in curses or not, it might be wise to avoid these objects and respect their stories. You never know what might happen if you mess with them.
© Colin Lawson Books