TMZ today reports that auction house Profiles in History have been sent a letter by Lavely & Singer, litigation counsel for Sylvester Stallone, regarding Lot 1069 from their “Hollywood Auction 44” catalog, published yesterday. Per the report and copy of the letter published by TMZ, Stallone’s attorney claims that the “pair of screen-used Sylvester Stallone ‘Rocky Balboa’ boxing gloves” attributed to Rocky (1976) are not authentic. TMZ also reports that a Profiles in History “rep tells us the company is VERY confident the gloves are legit“.
The letter purported to be from Mr. Stallone’s attorney, published by TMZ, opens:
We are litigation counsel to Sylvester Stallone. It has come to our attention that Profiles In History has been widely promoting an upcoming auction of items which it is falsely describing as “Sylvester Stallone’s boxing gloves from the first Rocky.” Be advised that these items are not “Sylvester Stallone’s boxing gloves from the first Rocky” and they are not authentic. We therefore demand that you immediately cease and desist from marketing and promoting them as genuine, and from falsely passing off these items as authentic boxing gloves used or worn by my client during the first iconic Rocky film. We demand that the gloves be pulled from the auction.
The full news report can be found at www.TMZ.com (see Stallone Attacks Auction — ‘Rocky’ Gloves Are FAKE):
TMZ has also published the letter that they report was sent by attorney Martin D. Singer to Joseph Maddelena of Profiles in History (LINK):
The letter includes interesting legal foundation and case citation, which I have not previously seen applied to the offering for sale and marketing of entertainment memorabilia.
In that the consignment and offering for sale via auction material which has been found to be inauthentic is not a new development with Profiles in History, the manner in which this reaction has manifested – with mainstream media reporting along with the publication of a related legal document, presumably prompted by the celebrity associated with the item(s) for sale – is significant.
Though such conjecture falls into the realm of speculation, one is left to wonder if the success of the Hollywood Treasure television series has made the related Profiles in History sale events that much more visible and of interest to the public, the media, and those who work in the production of film and television product (in front of and behind the camera), and that we may be witness to more reactions such as this in the future.
Below is an archive of the original lot as listed for sale in the current Profiles in History catalog:
The lot description for the items are as follows:
1069. PAIR OF SCREEN-USED SYLVESTER STALLONE “ROCKY BALBOA” BOXING GLOVES, SPEED BAG, JUMP ROPE AND BUTTONS FROM ROCKY. (UA, 1976) Screen-used black leather lace-up boxing gloves, marked “RM 10,” black leather Tuf-Wear speed bag, jump robe with wooden handles and a pair of “Rocky Balboa Contender” pinback buttons from Rocky. The boxing gloves, speed bag and jump rope are prominently seen in the famous training session sequences. Comes with a letter of provenance from Ronnie Cunningham, business agent from IATSE Local 44, prop masters who obtained these items from the Rocky prop master. $10,000 – $15,000
The letter from Mr. Stallone’s attorney does not in any way articulate or make a case for why they feel that the boxing gloves “are not authentic“.
Conversely, per the TMZ story:
“[Profiles in History] says it is “withdrawing the items pending further research.” Though a rep tells us the company is VERY confident the gloves are legit.
The Original Prop Blog will continue to monitor the story for further developments.
Jason DeBord