1960s Fred Kail “Joe Jolter” Large Standing Lineman Piggy Banks (8)

Presented is an outstanding array of the iconic Fred Kail Large Standing Lineman Piggy Banks, the famous “Joe Jolter” creation that featured a cartoonish interpretation with exaggerated facial features and shoulder pads adorning an ill-fitting but endearing uniform. The Maryland native Kail launched his unlikely vocation with pieces dressed as his hometown Baltimore Colts, with legend coyly suggesting that Hall of Fame lineman Art Donovan and his decidedly unathletic physique might be the inspiration for the design. Kail started selling the pieces at Memorial Stadium, eventually becoming so popular that the line was expanded to include other NFL teams and Kail signed an agreement to have the ceramic figures produced in Japan. Ultimately, the Kail figures would lay claim to being the first officially licensed NFL product in 1961. The roster of figures included the 10-inch “Joe Jolter” Large Standing Lineman, a 5 ½-inch Small Standing Lineman, Large Down Lineman “Bruce Bruiser” (6 inches wide and tall), a 3 ½-inch Small Down Lineman and the Large Stadium Ashtray. The figures feature a 2 5/8-by-3 7/8-inch base with no NFL Team Name decals at the front; the group presents in outstanding fashion, typically Ex-Mt or better, with some qualifiers noted in the listing. Here’s the breakdown Large Standing Lineman Banks (11): 1) Colts – no plug; 2) Giants – with plug, with some slot nicks and tiny nicks to the jersey and decal Nos.; 3) Giants – with plug, with some slot nicks and tiny nicks to jersey, helmet, strap and decal Nos.; 4) Cowboys – great specimen with no plug and zero slot nicks, and the tiniest of nicks to one shoulder decal No.; 5) Lions – slot nicks, plus tiny nicks to jersey and one shoulder decal No.; 6) Bears – slot nicks, plus tiny nicks to the jersey and one shoulder decal No.; 7) Steelers – tiny nicks to the jersey, hand, pants, shoe and front and back decal Nos.; and 8) Vikings – slot nicks, plus nicks to the helmet logo decals, shoe and decal Nos.