Jolly Cholly Insurance Dog

Yesterday, Lisa and I trekked down to Lebanon to the Countryside Antique Mall on 52.  They had several Breyers, including one I had heard about but never seen - the Jolly Cholly Insurance Promo. I brought it home with me.

 Breyer Jolly Cholly, #326, 1968/69--1985, Countryside Antique Mall, Lebanon, Indiana, $14

It's an interesting piece - one that has made many hobbyists scratch their heads as they tried to document him. Currently, it is not considered an OF Breyer in this state. Most seem to believe the chain and sign were added by a company using the pieces as a promotional.

Nancy Atkinson Young writes in her book, Breyer Molds and Models 1995, 4th Edition 1997, p. 266:

"A number of collectors have found #326s with an unusual feature: a chain entwined through four holes drilled into the neck, with a brown plastic card hanging from the chain. The cards have white lettering, which most commonly says "American Interinsurance Exchange." However, collector Sande Schneider found one that says "American Interstate Insurance Corporation of Wisconsin," and collector Mary Margaret Fox has one that says, "American Underwriters Group." The chain is of a different type from that used for Breyer horse reins or the Boxer's collar, and evidently Breyer did not supply it or the plastic cards. Collector Thea Ryan, who found one of the the "American Interinsurance Exchange" models at a flea market, notes that the reverse side of the card is printed with the name and address of Hoosier Badge and Trophies, Inc. in Indianapolis. Thea wrote to the trophy company and received a reply in June, 1992. The trophy company said they had made the cards for the insurance company at least nine years before - that would be 1983, which is consistent with the fact that these dogs have "U.S.A." stamps, dating them to no earlier than 1970. The trophy company did not have details but thought the insurance company had used the dogs as promotional items. In any case, the fact that the insurance company had the cards made indicates that Breyer had nothing to do with the creation of these insurance Chollys beyond manufacturing the basic models from which they are made."

Note: my piece does NOT have the name and address of Hoosier Badge and Trophies, Inc. printed on it. It is blank.