Little known variation of Winner Smurf

In 2012 Schleich released ten new Sporty Smurfs to coincide with the London Summer Olympic Games. But you will probably know them more by the name of the Olympic Smurfs. Each Smurf portrays a sport played at the Olympic Games, except for one Smurf admiring his gold medal.

Winner Smurf #20745 is wearing navy blue shorts and a singlet with white and red shoes. On his white hat is a laurel wreath. A gold medal on a red ribbon is worn around the Smurf’s neck. The gold medal also has the number 1 engraved into it.

Typically the Smurf has his eyes looking down, admiring the gold medal that he has won. However, recently another version has been found by collectors. A friend of mine summed it up perfectly – ‘Amazing how much a different eye position can change everything about how it looks’.

In my opinion, having two different versions of the Winner Smurf is gold. Displaying both next to each other creates a talking point because we have all seen images when someone receives a gold medal. First, I can’t believe this I have won a gold medal. Second, I am so proud of myself because I have won a gold medal.

In 2020 Schleich released a new Smurf with a Medal figurine #20822 to coincide with the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Like the Winner Smurf, it is wearing a medal with a red ribbon around its neck. But if someone can tell me why he has his left arm outstretched I would love to know.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

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Surprise Cone Smurfs

Today I feel like a Smurf with a Surprise Cone. It almost feels like my first day of the school and I feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. For the past few last months, Melbourne has been in lockdown and it’s now finally over. We can now go visit family and family more than 15 kilometres. Or visit our favourite cafe or bar and have a drink. There is no wonder I feel like a Smurf with a Surprise Cone.

Each Smurf is carrying a surprise cone fill with lollies and sweets. This is to replicate a German tradition upon where a child receives a surprise cone (Zuckertute) on their first day of school. There are three different Smurfs with Surprise Cones; green, pink and orange. Some say these are most sought after regular Smurfs because of nostalgia and the fact that Schleich only sold them for a short period.

In 1987 Schleich declared bankruptcy and new enforced child safety laws introduced in the early 1990’s impacted on the sale of the Surprise Cone Smurfs. Basically any Smurf with a removable or separate part could no longer be sold by Schleich. Luckily years on, you can still get your hands on a Surprise Cone Smurf. However, like me you may need to patient.

Green Surprise Cone

In my opinion, this is the hardest one to find. The surprise cone is painted in green and yellow angled stripes. It can also have the cone attached to the left or right foot and also not glued at all. Though I have also seen a photo of this one on a tree stump sharpener but I am not if it was ever sold like this by Schleich.

Pink Surprise Cone

I like this one the best because it was my first one. The cone is made out of pink pvc and also painted in a lighter pink colour. Like the others, the cone can be glued to the left or right foot or not at all.

Orange Surprise Cone

Painted in an orange an gold colours, this one reminds me of Christmas. In my view this is more red then orange but it really doesn’t matter.

Each of the Smurfs are wearing their customary white trousers and hat, and have the same markings under it’s feet – W.Germany Schleich S Peyo 1982. Some also have a black paint dot. The figurine was also used for Apple and Pumpkin Smurfs.

This week I hope you all enjoy and appreciate the small things in life. Most of all, I hope you all feel excited and happy just like the Surprise Cone Smurfs.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Gift & Flowers Smurf

It is easy to feel intimidated or that collecting Smurfs will be expensive at the beginning. But’s that’s a complete myth and couldn’t be further from the truth. I recall I wanted to learn about the different markings on Smurfs. Gift & Flowers Smurf was perfect for this because it was available for a long time and inexspensive.

A Smurf is carrying a yellow gift wrapped up in a red ribbon in one hand and a bunch of flowers in the other. The Smurfs have always been known for the kindness and thoughtfulness. What better way to show this by creating a figurine that demonstrates these qualities.

Schleich sold Gift & Flowers Smurf between 1978 to 1991 and 1993 to 2006. Also Wallace Berrie in the USA sold Gift & Flowers Smurf between 1979 to 1984. Both companies not only sold the figurine but other products that included the Gift & Flowers Smurf. For example, triangle pedestals, on suction caps just to name a few. When you add all this up, though you won’t find any rare colour variations, you will find many different markings.

Growing up in Australia, the majority of the Gift & Flowers Smurfs were spray painted and made out of Hong Kong. I recall collecting my first Gift & Flowers Smurf made out of West Germany and comparing it to my Hong Kong one. Same Smurf but so different and not expensive.

Now twenty years plus of collecting my philosophy hasn’t changed. In my opinion, if you enjoy collecting Smurfs that you like that’s all that matters. I like collecting different Smurfs with different markings and that is enough to keep me happy.

My list of markings for Gift & Flowers Smurf

W.Germany Schleich emblem Peyo
W.Germany Schleich S Peyo
Made in Hong Kong Schleich emblem 1978 Peyo
Made in Hong Kong Schleich S 1978 Peyo
Made in Hong Kong Schleich S 1980 Peyo
Made in Hong Kong W.B.CO. Schleich S 1978 Peyo
Made in Hong Kong W. Berrie Co. Schleich S 1978 Peyo
Made in Sri Lanka Schleich S 1978 Peyo
W.Germany Schleich S Peyo CE
Germany Schleich S 78 Peyo CE
Made in China Schleich S Germany 78 Peyo CE
Made in Germany Schleich S Germany 78 Peyo CE

Please let me know if there are more marking variants that needed to be added to the list

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Unknown facts of Angry Smurf

When I started collecting, I had no idea of the controversy of Angry Smurf. For me, Angry Smurf was just another Smurf to add to my collection with all the different variants. It wasn’t until much later that I learnt about the Purple or also referred to as the Gnap Smurf.

Angry Smurf is considered one of the first figurines by Schleich, made around 1966. Some of these were made with no markings or only had a Peyo marking. This variant also used a smaller mould and has both feet flat on the ground with more curved arms.

The other most distinguishing feature, in the beginning was the Smurf’s red eyes and black teeth. Some say it was Bully who started painting the Smurf’s teeth red. In my opinion, the ones with red eyes and teeth are more common.

Around 1979 Schleich created a new mould for Angry Smurf. This variant is a larger mould and has a more aggressive walking stance and both arms outstretched. It also has red eyes.

There are at least three variants of the larger Angry Smurf.

The Hong Kong variant is the only one painted with shiny black paint. The feet are also a little compared to the German ones. I believe this variant is considered rare.

Schleich also made a version in West Germany back in 1982/3. But for some reason it was only marked with a Schleich marking. The black teeth on these can also vary, some are painted and some are included in the mould. Similar to how the teeth are made for Toothbrush Smurf.

Strangely the last version of Angry Smurf made was for the 1960 to 1969 decade display box from 2011. I always thought this was a strange choice considering Angry Smurf was never sold in the USA.

Three facts on Angry Smurf

Angry Smurf was made between 1966 to 1986
The small mould was only made in West Germany and Portugal by Schleich
A rare black pvc mould was made, with red eyes and black teeth. Most likely used by Waldbaur chocolates.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

Thank You Smurf

The Smurf might look it, but this Smurf is quite different to others that adore giving flowers. That’s because Thank you Smurf is a two piece mould compared to flowers that were part of the one mould.

First produced in 2013, Thank You Smurf #20748 was one of eight Smurfs that made up the Gift series. Holding out two large yellow flowers to portray he is giving these flowers in appreciation to you.

Upon the release of the Gift Series in January 2013, Schleich listed each Smurf with a description. Thank You Smurf’s blurb was: With beautiful flowers, our Smurf would like to say thank you.

Smurfs giving flowers as a gift has been a popular theme with Schleich. Almost as popular as football themed Smurfs. Examples of these include: Gift & Flowers #20040, Lover #20044 and Bouquet #20469. No doubt there are others.

In 2016 Schleich released a ‘Smurfs for You’ display box only containing two Smurfs, Thank You Smurf and Valentine Smurf #20747. Both were part of the Gift series. But what you may not know is that these two have different markings to those released in 2013.

The markings on a Smurf can you tell you a lot about it. For some like me, I like to collect Smurf made out of different countries. So when Schleich started to make Smurfs in Tunisia, I just knew I wanted to collect these. One such as one was Thank You Smurf. Not only is it beautiful Smurf to admire when working from home, it makes me feel special. Smurfs and flowers what a beautiful way to appreciate someone close to you.

Markings to be found on Thank You Smurf

Variant #1
Made in Germany Am Limes 69 D-73527 Schw. Gmund Schleich S 2012 Peyo CE
with a clock stamp under the Smurf’s foot and on the back of the flowers

Variant #2
Made in Tunisia Am Limes D-73527 Schw. Gmund Schleich S 2012 Peyo CE
with a clock stamp under the Smurf’s foot and on the back of the flowers

In summing up it is easy to compare Smurfs that we used to collect when we were children. Though not all Smurfs were created with children in mind even though they are toys. The Gift series from 2013 is the best example of this, for that I am forever grateful for. Thank You Smurf!

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B