The Rosenbach Is Hosting ‘Behind the Bookcase: Dracula – The Enduring Monster,’ Featuring a Rare First Edition and Original Notes
Step into the shadows this Halloween season as The Rosenbach Museum & Library opens its vaults for a chillingly rare experience: Behind the Bookcase: Dracula – The Enduring Monster. Taking place on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 2008 Delancey Street, this exclusive, in-person tour invites visitors to uncover the literary origins of one of horror’s most enduring figures — Count Dracula himself.
Guests will venture beyond the public galleries to handle and examine Bram Stoker’s original handwritten notes for Dracula, including character outlines, chapter drafts, and personal chronologies that illuminate how Stoker meticulously built his timeless villain. Led by Rosenbach staff, this intimate exploration reveals the creative process behind the novel’s atmosphere of dread and suspense — and the cultural forces that shaped its legacy.
Adding to the experience are rare vampiric acquisitions recently added to The Rosenbach’s collection, including a colonial edition of Dracula printed for distribution in India and the British colonies, and an 1853 publication of Spiritual Vampirism, an early work that influenced Stoker’s conception of his nightmarish creation. Visitors will also view a first edition of Dracula and discover fascinating trivia — such as the fact that some of Stoker’s earliest notes for the novel were written on stationery from Philadelphia’s historic Bellevue Hotel (then the Stratford).
Part of The Rosenbach’s acclaimed Behind the Bookcase series, this program offers unparalleled, hands-on access to rare materials not typically on public display. Each tour focuses on a distinct author or theme, giving participants a tactile connection to literary history that few institutions in the world can offer.
Admission for the tour is $30 per person, with discounted pricing available for Rosenbach members. Space is limited and advance registration is strongly encouraged. Register at rosenbach.org.
