Papa Smurf variations

For me there are two Papa Smurf variations – one has a blue tail and one has a red tail. But like anything if you dig a little deeper there is more to find with the common Papa Smurf, #20001.

Papa Smurf – 1st version

Papa Smurf was first made in 1969 by Schleich and was used a promotional figurine for BP Holland. The first version of Papa Smurf was made out of blue pvc material, painted red and has its arm is held higher. It also has a red tail.

It can be found with either no markings or just a © Peyo marking on the back of the right arm.

Papa Smurf – 2nd version

Some stage between 1969 to 1972 Schleich started to make Papa Smurf out of red pvc material. It is unclear why they changed the colour of the pvc material but all other features from before stayed the same.

Schleich also started to add their own markings to Papa Smurf by adding their own emblem and W.Germany under the feet.

Papa Smurf – 3rd version

In 1972 Schleich changed the mould for Papa Smurf so its arm was held lower but still kept the red tail.

The © Peyo marking on the arm was also removed from the arm and added under the feet. So now all the markings were to be found under the feet – W.Germany Schleich emblem © Peyo.

Papa Smurf – 4th version

In my opinion this is probably the most common version of Papa Smurf that can be found. In 1974 Bully won the rights from Schleich to manufacture and sell Smurfs. When this happened, Bully removed the Schleich emblem from the Smurfs. But as Bully had not actually made the moulds they could not add their own marking to the figurine.

Oddly enough, when Schleich won the rights back to reproduce Smurfs in 1977, they also did not make any changes to the markings to Papa Smurf. It is also unclear if it was Bully or Schleich who decided to change Papa’s tail to blue.

Papa Smurf was sold like this between 1977 to 1990 with just the markings W.Germany © Peyo.

Papa Smurf – 5th version

In 1979 Schleich started making Smurfs out of Hong Kong for the first time. The Smurfs made out of Hong Kong were later sold by BP for both Australia and New Zealand and Wallace Berrie for the USA. The Papa Smurfs made out of Hong Kong were only ever produced with a blue tail. So imagine my surprise when I discovered a Papa Smurf with a red tail!

Papa Smurf – 6th version

Around 1990, Papa Smurf had changes made to it’s markings to include a CE mark; – W.Germany © Peyo CE. Schleich continued to make Papa Smurf out of red pvc material and paint it blue. It was made like this right up until 1999.

Papa Smurf – 7th version

In 2011 Schleich released Papa Smurf again as part of the decade display boxes. The markings can be found on the back of the head and also under Papa Smurf’s feet. Later in 2013, the same Papa Smurf was included a special release by Schleich and Toys R Us on a blister card. I now wish I had kept this Papa Smurf on its card, now that Toys R Us declared bankruptcy in 2017.

Papa Smurf

I have over 200 Papa Smurfs within my collection. I just love that when the painters added his eyes they mixed things up. So in way there are no two Papa Smurfs alike, just by the way they painted his pupils. That is a very simple but effective trick. That’s what I call diversity!

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Celebrate with Champagne Bottle Smurf

Nothing beats a good mystery, especially when it comes to the release of the 2020 Smurfs. Not only has it taken until September for the 2020 Smurfs to become available in most parts of the world. But there has been a delay with Smurf with Bottle #20821. So far no explanation has been given by Schleich. So while we wait patiently for the arrival with Smurf with Bottle, let’s go back in time and celebrate Champagne Bottle Smurf, #20708.

Champagne Bottle Smurf was released in 2008 as part of the Celebration set made by Schleich. Licking his lips at the oversized bottle of Champagne that reads Happy Birthday. Sometimes this Smurf was just referred to as Bottle. This may have something to do with the rights and using the word ‘Champagne’.

The first version that can be found has lighter golden colours and has the markings: Made in Germany Schleich S Germany © 07 Peyo CE.

The second version that can be found has darker golden colours and has the markings: Made in Germany © 07 Peyo Schleich S Am Limes 69 D-73527 Schw. Gmund CE + date stamp. It was last produced in 2014.

There is also a Chinese fake version of Champagne Bottle Smurf. These are easily identifiable fakes, as they are poorly painted and are made out of very hard pvc material. Around the same time (I think it was 2011), the Halloween and Indian series were also produced out of China as fakes.

I have always liked Smurf with Champagne Bottle, because of it’s cheeky disposition. The good thing is that it can still be easy to find and makes for a good cake topper Smurf.

What we know about Smurf with Bottle

If we can go off the photo from Schleich, this Smurf looks a little different to Smurf with Champagne Bottle. To begin with, the Smurf has a shy little smile (no tongue licking his lips) and the bottle reads ‘The Smurfs’. This is the blurb from Schleich about Smurf with Bottle – You should open the bottle the Smurf is bringing you on a very special occasion.

Let’s and wait see shall we………..

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

P.S If you know what has happened to Smurf with Bottle, please let me know. The suspense is killing me…………

Candy Store triangle pedestal

If you enjoy learning about new things then you may be interested in the story behind the Candy Store promotional triangle pedestal. I discovered this when reading the Smurf Collector’s Club International Newsletter, issue 57 published in 2000.

In 1981 the proprietors of a tiny Johnstown, Pa. A small store named ‘Candy Store’ ordered their very own Promotional Smurf from their Wallace Berrie salesman to promote their store! It was produced in an impossibly small Limited Edition of 1200 pieces! The text on the yellow stand printed in white, reads ‘Candy Store, Johnstown, Pa’.

The promotion included Jester Smurf, holding a red and white sriped candy cane. It is unclear why this particular Smurf was used but this would one of the smallest production runs to be used for promotional purposes.

Wallace Berrie made a series of triangle pedestals during it’s time. Possibly the most sought after ones are the ones promoting various places around the USA. Some just mention the state; e.g Dallas and other mention a business such as The Candy Store!

Brief history of Jester Smurf

Jester #20090 was one of only three new Smurfs sold by Bully in 1977. Commonly it is found with a blue tail. However it can be found with a yellow tail, though this version is harder to find.

Jester was sold in Europe between 1977 to 1991, first made by Bully and then Schleich. Very little changes were made to mould. The colour of the stars on the back of the head can vary from bright gold to a tarnished green to a green colour.

In 1981 Wallace Berrie also started selling Jester all the way through to 1984. It must have been very popular as it was also used as part of 20th anniversary Jubilee series released in 1985 by Schleich.

I hope you enjoyed the story behind this special promotional triangle pedestals. It just shows you, that all sorts of businesses and organisations love the Smurfs!

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Brainy Smurf Referee

Trust Brainy Smurf to be the Referee, wearing a striped white and black uniform while blowing on a silver whistle and pointing his finger to the right.

Brainy Referee was one of the last Smurfs released by Applause in 1985. Though it was only made in Hong Kong for a short period, it was a long enough to make changes to the base that was used. The first version was made on a very thin green oval base. This Brainy Referee was glued to the base and not attached to the base with a plug like all the others. The base also appears to be half the thickness of the thicker base.

It is also thought that the version of Brainy Referee found with no markings was made in Hong Kong. This version can be found with a light green mounded base.

Schleich also released a version of Brainy Smurf, made between 1985 to 1989 and then again from 1993 to 1996. The figurine is pretty much the same as the one used by Applause. Typically the Schleich version can be found with duller paint colours. However the base used is a light green smooth oval base. Markings can be found on both the Smurf and the base.

The last version made by Schleich was made out of China. This was the same version of Brainy Referee that was sold with the French magazine Je Collectionne les Schtroumpfs. The magazine was sold between 2004 to 2006 and a total of 66 editions were released.

Is this genuine?

I am always a little sceptical when a Smurf figurine is made out of one country and the base is from another country. Did Schleich actually produce them like this? Or did the seller combine them together?

This version of Brainy Referee can be found with matte colours and a smooth oval green base. The markings on the Smurf are: W.Germany Schleich S © 84 Peyo and on the base: Made in Portugal Schleich S © 1980. What do you think, is this genuine?

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B