By Soo Youn, Daily News, New York Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Jun. 12--The Gipper is up for grabs on the Internet.
Less than a week after Ronald Reagan's death, auction Web site eBay has been flooded with mementos of the Great Communicator.
There's even a well-timed banner ad, which eBay says was bought in January, running on the site with lines like "Searching for Reagan? Click here. Ronald Reagan Memorabilia under $10."
While eBay says it didn't track listings before Reagan's death Saturday, they have seen postings balloon this week. Yesterday there were more than 11,000 items linked to the 40th President being offered for sale.
The listings included a Marsellus coffin that's billed as the same make in which the former actor will be buried. It can be yours for a minimum bid of $15,900.
Preapproved buyers can even bid on a sculpture, offered at $6 million, which is currently on display in front of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
More pedestrian items like T-shirts, postcards and letters were offered from 99 cents.
"Anecdotally we've seen a significant spike in the number of Reagan-related listings since his death was announced and frankly that's not a surprise," said Hani Durzy, a spokesman for eBay. "What we've noticed is that eBay has become a barometer for what is happening in society."
Last month, the auction of items related to former NFL football player-turned-Army Ranger Pat Tillman sparked some outrage after he died from friendly fire in Afghanistan.
The Gipper grab bag was met with mixed responses from New Yorkers who already own little pieces of the former President's past.
"I wouldn't buy anything this week, definitely not," said Ray Faiola, a film and memorabilia collector in Manhattan who owns dozens of Reagan items and once bought a vintage poster on eBay from Reagan's 1949 film "The Hasty Heart."
"I think it would be tasteless to cash in on his passing in that manner," said Faiola, who took the day off work to watch the former President's funeral on TV.
The legendary New York auction houses Sotheby's and Christie's said they will not be cashing in on the nation's mourning.
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