(Adds other auctions in fifth paragraph.)
By Heather Langan
Nov. 23 (Bloomberg) -- A grilled-cheese sandwich said to bear the image of the Virgin Mary has been sold for $28,000 in an Ebay Inc. auction, according to the online casino that bought it from a woman in Hollywood, Florida.
The Virgin's face appeared to Diana Duyser, 52, after she took one bite of the sandwich, the GoldenPalace.com casino said in a statement on its Web site. That was 10 years ago, and since then she has kept the half of the sandwich she says is holy in cotton balls in a clear plastic box next to her bed.
The sandwich, made from processed American cheese on white bread, has remained free of mold, a phenomenon Duyser attributes to divine intervention, the casino said.
``I would like all people to know that I do believe that this is the Virgin Mary Mother of God,'' Duyser, a jewelry designer, was cited by the casino as saying. ``That is my solemn belief. People ask me if I have had blessings since she has been in my home. I do feel I have, I have won $70,000 on different occasions at the casino near my house.''
GoldenPalace.com, based St. Johns, Antigua, said it will take its ``slice of heaven'' on a world tour for charity. The casino said it raised more than $200,000 for charity through promotions involving other items purchased on Ebay. The sandwich attracted more than 1.7 million visitors to its Ebay listing, the casino said.
``This is something people want to know more about,'' the casino's chief executive, Richard Rowe, said in the statement. ``Golden Palace will help spread the word. We believe that everyone should be able to see it and learn of its mystical power for themselves.''
Casino officials flew to South Florida yesterday after the auction closed, so that they could take possession of the sandwich in person rather than risk having it shipped to Antigua, Florida's Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported.
The auction has spawned the sale on Ebay of look-alike sandwiches, along with T-shirts, earrings, Christmas ornaments, decals, photos and refrigerator magnets depicting Duyser's version. A grilled-cheese sandwich purporting to bear the image of Elvis Presley attracted a bid of $275.