On November 3rd, a special collection of 175+ Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, and Larry Luckinbill memorabilia items will be auctioned on eBay.
The following article was written by Sandi Garcia and appeared in the Alameda Patch.
In 2011, what would have been Lucille Balls 100th birthday coincided with the 60th anniversary of the first episode of the I Love Lucy show. To commemorate the occasion, Lucy and Desi Arnaz’ daughter, Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, decided to make available items from her parent’s personal collection to fans on eBay.
Lucie and her husband, Laurence “Larry” Luckinbill, were thrilled with response! Now that they are downsizing from their family home now in anticipation of their move to Palm Springs, they’ve decided to release more memorabilia. This second auction is expanded to include articles from Lucie and Larry’s own successful acting careers.
Hear Lucie discuss why she decided to do the first auction.
For Lucie, it was important to work with someone she trusted to manage the sale. She turned to experienced eBay seller Maida Webster, owner of Connectibles. Maida met Lucie 15 years ago in Connecticut where they both live. “She [Lucie] trusts me completely to have her back”, said Maida.
Originally joining eBay for fun in 1998, Maida and her husband began seriously selling in 2004 and their post retirement hobby has evolved into a full-time career for both of them.
Maida knew how important it was to her friend and client that fans could finally participate and purchase some of her treasured family memories. She also knew that the I Love Lucy fanbase was much more likely to be on Ebay then at a New York Auction house.
“It was important 2 years ago for Lucille Ball’s 100th birthday that we offer items that fans could finally participate in purchasing,” Maida said. “The first sale was beyond anything we imagined; the fans WERE on Ebay, they were passionate.”
I asked Maida what this was like for her and she responded, “It’s been a remarkable experience to participate.” She continued, “It’s been truly a fantastic experience to immerse myself in following a family from time of the beginning of the marriage all the way to the present.”
“I am even dreaming about Lucy now!”
The items for sale span Lucy and Desi’s careers, and also include an exciting array of television, film, and Broadway memorabilia from Lucie and Larry’s acting careers.
Some highlights include:
- 1940s bed jacket owned by Lucy
- Desi Arnaz own personal stop watch
- 1949 memorabilia from Lucy’s and Desi’s wedding, including her gloves, garter, and a piece of the groom’s cake
- 1950s wrought iron patio furniture used by both families for decades
- Original costumes worn by Lucie Arnaz on Broadway in her award-winning performance in “They’re Playing our Song”
- Star Trek V memorabilia (Larry Luckinbill portrayed Spock’s half-brother Sybok)
Also included in the auction is a New York Yankees #42 Mariano Rivera Jersey worn by Lucie Arnaz September 15, 2011 when she was invited to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (signed by Lucie). But don’t even THINK of bidding on this jersey, it will be mine!
All items will come with a signed Certificate of Authenticity from Lucie Arnaz. As the individual items come available for sale on eBay, they will be accessible through this link: http://stores.ebay.com/Connectibles/Lucy-Desi
A few preview items are up now. Many more will be launched at auction this Sunday evening, November 3rd.
Maida says, “I am humbled and grateful!” for having this opportunity to work with the Arnaz-Luckinbill family. Selling on eBay can connect you with amazing stories, captivating histories, and is a truly personal experience.
If you would like to take a class to learn how to sell on eBay, my next class is scheduled for November 16th at 1400 Bar & Grill in Alameda. Register here.
Sandi Garcia is “Social Sandi”, an Education Consultant trained by eBay. I travel around the country to help teach sellers, and have taught at eBay Headquarters in San Jose, in Tucson, and in Atlanta in 2013.
The tin dollhouse is still flat inside the box as it was packed originally; tabs are therefore perfect as is the metal with no scratches or marks. 
parts to assemble.
