Policeman Smurf

An Austrian man faces a €160 fine for describing police officers as “smurfs” in a warning about speed checks posted on Facebook. The man maintains the term “smurfs” was meant as a harmless joke rather than an insult, and plans to defend the charge.

So if you like to collect different colour and marking variations then Policeman smurf is one to look out for. First released by Schleich in 1981 until 1989 and then from 1993 to 1998. Policeman was also released in the USA from 1982 to 1984 by Wallace Berrie.

The first version of the Policeman can be found wearing a white jacket and helmet, black pants and blowing a red whistle and waving his brown baton in the left hand. This one typically can be found with the markings: W.Germany Schleich S © 1981 Peyo. It is also possible to find this one with a mustard paint dot which indicates that it was painted in Portugal. Most likely this one was originally sold in the UK.

Around 1985 Schleich decided to change the colour of the baton from brown to white. Most likely around the same time the Policeman was also being made out of Portugal as well W.Germany.

The Policeman smurf was also made out of Hong Kong and was sold in Australia & New Zealand by BP and also in the USA by Wallace Berrie. Wearing a shiny black jacket and helmet, white pants while blowing a silver whistle and waving a brown baton in the left hand. This can be found with three different Hong Kong markings. First with just Hong Kong markings then after 1982 W.B.CO. were added and then the markings were changed completely with the W.Berrie Co markings.

Made in Hong Kong Schleich S © 1981 Peyo
Made in Hong Kong W.B.CO. Schleich S © 1981 Peyo
Made in Hong Kong W.Berrie Co Schleich S © 1981 Peyo

In the beginning I only ever thought that the black jacket and helmet version of the Policeman was only ever made out of Hong Kong. This appears not to be the case, as only more recently I discovered this was also made out of Portugal. I don’t have this version but have seen pictures of this. Most collectors considered this Policeman as extremely rare.

In 1985 Schleich released their Jubilee smurfs celebrating 20 years association with producing the smurfs. Both the white and black jacket versions of the Policeman can be found stamped in gold on the back of it’s head with a design consisting of leaves, date of issue (1981) and Peyo’s signature.

In 1993 when the Policeman was re-introduced it was made wearing a white jacket and helmet, black pants and blowing a red whistle and waving a thicker white baton in the left hand. The blue paint that was used is also a brighter blue than previously used. This was made out of Portugal and can be found with a CE marking on the side of his foot.

The Policeman smurf was also used as a promotion for OMO, made out of blue pvc material and measuring about 2cm tall. A total of sixteen smurfs were made like this and were included in a packet of OMO washing powder.

Obviously the man who called the police officers ‘smurfs’ didn’t really know his Policeman smurfs afterall. https://www.standard.co.uk/news

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Motor Scooter Super Smurfs

This week in Melbourne, Australia’s first scooter ride share business was launched calling themselves Scooti. Like others such as Uber it operates on a ride sharing app to connect with scooter drivers and passengers. Already their has been a reference to the smurfs as the scooters are a bright blue colour.

Like any passionate smurf collector, upon hearing the news my instant reaction was to find my Motor Scooter Super Smurfs, that were originally released in 1999 by Schleich.

In 1999 Schleich released five new Super Smurfs that included both of the Motor Scooter Smurfs. Some have referred to these smurfs released around this time as the New Generation smurfs.

Motor Scooter Smurf, #40253 can be found riding a red scooter with the number plate S – 1, while wearing a green jumper, navy blue pants, black shoes, yellow safety gloves and a white helmet. Schleich sold this between 1999 to 2004.

Motor Scooter Smurfette, #40254 can be found riding a purple scooter with the number plate S – 2 while wearing a pink jumper, brown pants, green socks, white shoes with black laces, brown gloves and a white helmet. Surprisedly Schleich only sold this one between 1999 to 2002.

The markings Made in China Schleich S Germany © 98 Peyo can be found under the feet and the Ce marking is under their bottoms. There are no markings to be found on their scooters.

There appears to be at least two different variations to be found with Motor Scooter Super Smurfs, one with lighter colours and one with slightly more darker colours. Typically the one with the darker colours can be found with a blue paint dot under the foot. This version was released around 2001.

If you are also keen to collect the Super Smurf boxes, both Motor Scooter Smurfs came with a circular smurf logo with a dancing smurfs pattern and should include a picture on the top of the box.

In my opinion these are both cleverly designed and beautifully painted Super Smurfs. A lot of thought must have gone into the design and making of the scooters as such they rarely full over when displayed. Little things such as an indent into the seat where the smurf sits and the stand underneath the scooter that it allows it to be displayed without detracting from the scooter.

If the idea of the scooter taxi service is to get around Melbourne more quickly just imagine how much more time that leaves me for collecting more smurfs.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Beer Smurf

Most of us have more than one favourite smurf in their collection and to celebrate St Patrick’s Day instead of writing about St Patrick’s smurf I have decided to tell you about Beer smurf. First released by Bully in 1974.

When the Beer figurine was first produced by Bully it had no markings or eyebrows. This was quite common back then for early releases by Bully. Then Bully marked it with © Peyo on the beer stein or on the back of the right arm. This must have a popular smurf as you can find this also with three other Bully markings. Some people also refer to the Bully ones as the small mould.

In 1980 when Schleich won the global licence to produce smurfs, just like with the other Bully smurfs Schleich sent the old moulds to Hong Kong and only kept the last Bully version in Germany. In 1981 Wallace Berrie sold the Beer smurf with Hong Kong Bully markings and by 1983 they started selling the Hong Kong Schleich version.

Schleich continued to sell Beer smurf right through to 1992. The Schleich marked ones are commonly referred to as the large mould. During this period Beer smurf was also sold as a keyring, sockel/pedestal just to name a few. Along with the many fakes!

In 1985 Schleich produced their Jubilee smurfs celebrating their 20th anniversary. Schleich selected the most popular and best selling figurines to be represented in the Jubilee series for each year! Beer smurf was selected for the year 1974.

In Australia Beer Smurf was only sold on the Congratulations orange sockel/pedestal, this was around 1981/82. By looking at the two I have it looks like they used the one with Hong Kong Bully markings.

Now some feel that Beer smurf is not really appropriate for children. Some feel with his happy disposition and beer stein full to the brim with frothy beer is encouraging under age drinking. Obviously those people are not familiar with the Smurfing Beer song released in 1982 by Father Abraham on the Father Abraham in Smurfland album. The chorus has the following lyrics:
“Beer Beer Smurfing beer – You don’t get drunk and isn’t dear”

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Freaky Friday with Azrael

There is a little bit of Azrael in every single one of us, wouldn’t you agree? Azrael is Gargamel’s cat or more like his trusty campion trying to capture the smurfs and like any evil villains they always seem to get in each other’s way just at the pivotal moment. Previously Azrael had only been released as a Super Smurf with Gargamel, article number #40211 between 1979 to 1986.

Azrael was first released as its own figurine in 1992, article number #20411. This version included Azrael on the prowl licking his lips. The orange pvc material can vary and you can also find version ones with a notch in the right ear or without a notch. It should also have a blue paint dot on the end of his nose. This was sold by Schleich up until the end of 2014. So still quite easy to find.

In 1996 another Azrael figurine was released, this time it was called Azrael Frightened, article number #40239. By the looks of this figurine it looks like it has just done the ice bucket challenge! This one is harder to find out of two as this Azrael was only sold by Schleich up until end of 2000.

It wasn’t until the 50th anniversary that a new Azrael was released this time Party Azrael, article number #20703. I was never fan of the green bow on his tail as for me this looked odd.

In 2013 when The Smurfs 2 movie was released a combined Gargamel & Azrael figurine was released, article number #20759. I really liked the portrayal of Azrael on this one but not so much Gargamel. For me he looks like Statler from the Muppets Show. You may recall him as one of the two old men used to heckle Fozie and other acts from on The Muppets Show. His offsider was called Waldorf.

The same Gargamel & Azrael figurine were included in the Smurf House with Gargamel and Papa Smurf, article number #20803 as part of The Lost Village movie sets. I was little disappointed when I found this out but also found it quite understandable. So my disappointment didn’t last too long as the Smurf House is just amazing such high quality.

Lastly as I didn’t grow up reading the smurf comics or watching the NBC cartoon series, I was quite surprised to learn that when Azrael was first created it was female and then in the cartoon series they changed it to male. After this Azrael was also portrayed as male in the comics. In the movies Azrael has always been male. Freaky!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Congratulations Smurf vs Heart Smurf

If you were to ask me what smurfs are hard to buy online, you might find that my answer may surprise you. My answer is Congratulations and Heart smurfs and it is not because of their rarity but because of their similarities. Both wearing white trousers and hat, hands outstretched just to name a few.

From my own experience it wasn’t until I had Congratulations smurf and a Heart smurf without a heart that it finally clicked on what other more experienced were referring when it came to discussing their hands. This is why buying these smurfs online can be tricky especially if you are dealing with inexperienced seller who has no idea.

The difference with Congratulations and Heart smurfs is to do with the position of their hands and fingers. With Congratulations smurf the hands and fingers are contoured and shaped to fit the hand of Champion smurf. The idea was to give it the appearance they were shaking each other’s hands. With Heart smurf the hands are closer together and flatter in shape. Inside the hands is more slot shaped. This is because it was designed to accommodate the heart.

Congratulations smurf was first released in 1980 and can be only found with one marking: W.Germany Schleich S © Peyo 1979. The marking W.Germany can be found between the legs, Schleich S on the inside of the left foot and the © Peyo 1979 can vary as it can appear on the outside of either leg. It was sold by Schleich between 1980 to 1986.

With the Heart smurf, there are three to collect each with a saying in English, German & French. It appears there is no differences to the figurine only to the heart they are holding. The text is always in black.

1. Have a Heart !
2. Ein Herz Für Kinder
translated means A heart for children
3. De Tout Mon Coeur
translated means Of all my heart

The markings to be found are W.Germany Schleich S © Peyo 80. It was sold by Schleich between 1981 to 1986. It can also be found with a mustard paint dot. I have also have one that has a gold oval sticker under the foot that reads Painted in Portugal.

If you are wanting to ensure that the smurfs in your collection are the correct ones, it always pay off to buy from an experienced seller. No question may be silly in the eyes of an experienced seller as they too can appreciate the finer things with smurf collecting. Just try it for yourself, just ask Andrew.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B