Jokey with Trick Box

Without a doubt Jokey with Trick Box is the most sought after Smurf by the majority collectors. For me, it took close to 20 years to add one to my own collection. Even then its latch on the box was broken and the Super Smurf came with no box. But this didn’t phase me at all, I finally now could say I have my own Jokey with Trick Box.

So what makes Jokey with Trick Box so collectible? Is it the adorable Jokey making fun of Gargamel? Is it that fact it was released for such a short period of time. But is it perhaps a bit of both.

Made in Hong Kong W. Berrie Co. Schleich S © 1983 Peyo

Jokey with Trick Box #40247 was first released in 1985 by Applause. Jokey with Trick can be found with a Smurf wearing his white trousers while holding a yellow plastic trick box with a red ribbon around it. Inside the box is Gargamel’s head on a metal spring. On the box there is a small latch on it, that allows you to close the box. Typically this is painted in darker colours. They used the same mould for Apple Smurf #20160.

The Applause version of Jokey with Trick Box can be found (if you’re lucky) with a light blue Super Smurf Applause box. Only six Super Smurfs were ever sold with this box.

W.Germany Schleich S © 1982 Peyo

Like the Applause version, Schleich also produced a Jokey with a Trick Box around 1985. Schleich sold Jokey with Trick Box between late 1985 and 1986. For a short time Schleich re-released it in 1994 with a hand etched CE marking. It was painted in lighter colours and can be found with the Super Schlumpf Smurf !! box. Schleich also used the same mould for Apple Smurf #20160.

Because Jokey with Trick Box is highly collectible, it is best to keep your wits about yourself when considering to add this one to your collection. When inspecting the Smurf ensure the Trick box is connected to the Smurf by a small piece of a red piece of plastic. This is inserted into a hole on the Smurf’s stomach. Also Jokey with Trick Box was never sold with a paint dot or has Made in Portugal markings.

I adore my Jokey with Trick Box and can’t wait to get another, just to compare the two. But this time I am going to make sure that the trick box closes or comes with its box!

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Singer Smurf

I have often wondered if people can recall what was their first Smurf. For many of us, we may have first started collecting Smurfs as a child then stopped and then started collecting again when they were older. Like me, I can’t recall exactly what my first Smurf was but it’s good chance it may have been Singer.

Singer #20038 is a likable Smurf that can be found holding a yellow song sheet music. The expression on his face is that he is cheerily singing a song, while his eyes are shut.

Made in Hong Kong Schleich emblem © Peyo

There is a good chance that Singer was one of the first Smurfs made out of Hong Kong by Schleich in 1978. In the beginning they only included the Schleich emblem © Peyo markings under the Smurf’s feet. They also experimented with using spray paint to paint the Smurfs for a short period. Later on they started to include Made in Hong Kong to the markings.

The Singer Smurf that was made out of Hong Kong was distrubuted throughout many parts of the world. It was sold by BP Australia, BP New Zealand, Wallace Berrie in the USA and also used as a bonus figurine with the Fix and Foxi magazine in Sweeden.

W.Germany Schleich emblem © Peyo

Schleich also produced Singer out of Germany (back then it was called West Germany). Both moulds look pretty much the same, but the differences are typically found with the yellow colour of the song sheet. Some collectors also make reference to the thickness of the music notes on the song sheets.

Made in China Schleich emblem © Peyo

Around 2004 a version of the Singer was produced out of China. This Singer was sold as a bonus figurine with the French magazine Je Collectionne les Schtroumpfs. It can also be found with a blank sheet without anything printed on it. The yellow sheet is also a very light lemon yellow colour.

In my opinion if you are looking at buying a Smurf for someone, Singer is serioiously worth considering. A timeless classic that won’t break the budget and a Smurf that many remember fondly from their childhood.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Smurfette with Tea Set

Every Smurf has a story to tell. Smurfette with Tea Set #40245 first released in 1984 is one of the more intereresting ones. Therefore let me explain.

First release

In 1984 Applause (formerly known as Wallace Berrie) first released Smurfette with Tea Set in the USA. Smurfette is wearing a light pink apron over a white dress while holding a lavender coloured cup and teapot. She comes with a table with a pink table top, a lavender cup and dark brown bread. The underside of the table if brown and the table appears to be slightly higher than others.

But what makes this version highly collectible is that it was only sold for two possibly three years – 1984 to 986. It is also worth noting that the box used by Applause was only used for six Super Smurfs.

Second release

It wasn’t until 1986 that Schleich started to sell sold Smurfette with Tea Set. Smurfette can be found with a pink apron, over a white dress, pink cup and teapot. Dark pink table top, pink cup, light brown bread. The under side of the table is pink. Schleich sold Smurfette with Tea Set between 1986 to 1993.

Third release – the most interesting one!

In 1990 in America, Applause decided to relaunch itself which unfortunately failed due to poor sales. As part of the new launch Applause re-released eleven Smurf figurines. All eleven were remakes of existing Smurfs with new markings China Applause ™ Peyo CE.

Including in the eleven was Smurfette with Tea Set without her table. So with this you just find Smurfette holding a cup and teapot. It is unclear why Applause sold her like this, perhaps they thought it was child safety issue with the table and the little cup and bread.

As you can see this is what makes Smurfette with a Tea Set such an interesting Smurf to collect. If you are lucky enough to have all three, I suggest that you display in them in the order they were released. Not only are they brightly coloured but allow you to tell a story.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B