ABSTRACT
On November 22, 2004, bidding closed on eBay item #5535890757, “Virgin Mary In Grilled Cheese NOT A HOAX! LOOK & SEE!” The winning bid was 28,000 USD. The listing’s narrative indicated that the seller, Mrs. Diana Duyser of Florida, had made the grilled cheese sandwich in 1994. When she took a bite, she saw grilled in the bread’s surface the apparent face of the Virgin Mary. Duyser packaged the sandwich in cotton balls, placed it in a plastic box, and kept it by her bed for the next decade. According to Duyser, it never molded or crumbled, and she came to see it as invested with miraculous powers—or “blessings”—that over the years helped her win a total of 70,000 USD at a nearby casino. Duyser had to list the sandwich for auction a second time, as eBay removed the first listing, believing it to be a hoax. During the first auction, bidding reached 22,000 USD. On the second listing, after attracting considerable publicity, the sandwich received close to 2 million hits and was purchased by the internet casino GoldenPalace.com, a company known for its flashy promotional stunts and history of eBay purchases. 1
