MUHAMMAD ALI AUTOGRAPHED PROTOTYPE Salvino RED TRUNKS - #2/15 - ONLY 15 MADE MIB

Description

MUHAMMAD ALI “The Greatest“ RAREST PROTOTYPE RED Trunk Salvino Figurine, Limited to ONLY 15 WORLDWIDE, Hand signed by Ali. Never Displayed, Mint in Box.
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I was a Salvino dealer in the early 90’s and bought figurines directly from Salvino, including many of the rare /328 dealer special pieces and other rare figurines. I purchased this figurine knowing that it was the rarest of the rare. In fact, it is the only red trunk Ali I have ever seen. I have regularly scoured the Internet and searched EBay and other auction sites since the 1990’s for the purpose of establishing value. No comparable piece has ever been found. I have contacted Heritage Auctions and other auction houses and consulted experts in the industry. No one that I’ve consulted with has ever seen this ultra rare figurine.
There are a few confirming facts that prove this is an original prototype and not a repainted regular production piece. I have included a pic of the black trunk variant (/400) for comparison.
CONFIRMING FACTS THAT THIS IS AN ORIGINAL PROTOTYPE
FOOT PINS: Note the pins extending from Ali’s feet. These pins line up with steel-reinforced holes on the base. On the production pieces (white:/3500 and black:/400), the feet attach directly to the base. See pic of the black trunk variant for reference.
DETAILED SHADING: Note the heightened level of detail in the shading, especially on the chest and back. The striations on Ali’s chest really pop! The production pieces had a flat coloration, probably due to the amount of time and energy required of Salvino’s artists to create this enhanced, more realistic, look.
PROTOTYPE LABEL: While it is acknowledged that anyone with skill and a printer could create a fake label, the figurine shipped with this label, stating “Prototype” and numbering the piece as 1 of only 15 made.
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SHIPPING: Figurine will be bubble wrapped, double boxed, and shipped with delivery confirmation and insured for the amount of the purchase.
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