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'Jesus' spud is a dud on eBay

By MARY JANE PARK
Published July 10, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - The potato chip in which Rosalie Lawson sees the face of Jesus was for sale on eBay last week.

The highest bid was only $2.25 - 74 cents less than Publix is charging for a full bag of crisps - and short of Lawson's reserve, or minimum, price. Reserves are not revealed to potential buyers, and no sales are required if bids fail to meet the desired amount.

The 55-year-old Shore Acres resident bought Lay's sour cream and onion potato chips during a Memorial Day weekend sale at the Northeast Publix. She noticed the image while snacking in front of the TV one evening.

News outlets from throughout the world reported about it. Late-night television hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman cracked jokes about it.

Lawson, who says her computer skills are limited, asked her son to try to sell it on eBay. The auction opened July 1 and closed Friday afternoon.

She wouldn't say what price she hoped it would bring.

"I want to leave that a secret," she said. "We're just going to hold on to it. It's in a safe-deposit box. We moved it to the bank."

The GoldenPalace online casino, which has paid thousands of dollars for novelty foodstuffs, has expressed interest, Lawson said. The family will contact personnel there Monday.

Meanwhile, she has become a minor celebrity and has chuckled at some of the one-liners.

"You can't get angry," she said. "Jay Leno makes fun of everybody. It's been fun, I'll tell you that."

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 23:34:17]