Reagan Collectibles Suddenly Hot Items June 9, 2004 – Posted in: Press
By LUCIO GUERRERO
Published: June 9, 2004
Chicago Sun-Times
Two months ago, Paul Linke tried to auction off a 12-inch replica doll of Ronald Reagan. He had few takers.
The same doll is back on Internet auction site eBay, and the response has been much different.
“There is definitely more interest this time,” said Linke, 34, of Addison. “It’s too bad that it takes a tragedy like a death to get people interested.”
Since the death of former President Reagan on Saturday, the collectible market dealing with Reagan memorabilia has soared. The demand is so high that the Reagan Library can’t keep up with orders for gifts bearing Reagan’s signature or likeness. According to the library’s Web site, there’s no guarantee about when merchandise will be shipped out.
On eBay, the national barometer of popularity, there are 162 pages dedicated to Reagan memorabilia.
Among the more interesting listings from the Chicago area:
*A record album of President Reagan reading stories from the Old Testament. According to the listing, the record was recorded in 1954 as a children’s record, but was not released until 1984. Starting bid, $10.
*A notecard with Reagan’s signature underneath the famous phrase, “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” It’s dated June 12, 1987, West Berlin, Germany. Starting bid, $500.
*A Topps baseball card of Reagan throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field. According to the listing, the card includes a piece of wood from a Wrigley Field seat. Starting bid, $29.
But while most of the items on eBay are novelties, there are a few Chicago collectors who are offering up high-end Reagan memorabilia.
At the House of Kahn, on East Walton in Chicago, there’s a sterling silver cigarette case that was owned by former California Sen. George Murphy. The case includes the engraved signatures of more than a dozen Hollywood celebrities, including Bob Hope and Gary Cooper, but it’s the Reagan scrawl that is expected to make it valuable. Asking price, more than $20,000.
The store is also selling handwritten letters from Reagan to Murphy.
Experts in the presidential collector’s market said Reagan has always been a popular figure, but they expect him to really take off in the coming days.
“I was coming home from a play when I heard the news, and by the time I got home, I already had orders for Reagan stuff,” said Drew Julian, who runs one of the Web’s largest political collectible sites, www.djpolitical.com. “He had been idolized by so many people. He was like [John F.] Kennedy for the Democrats.”