Once in a while you are going to find something that you think is priceless, so allow me to introduce you to my latest find – Smurfs Discover Australia. On the front cover it tells me its “an educational fun book” on the back cover it has (c) Peyo SEPP – BP Australia 1979 Published by Budget Books Pty Ltd.
In 1979 BP Australia introduced smurfs to Australia. The large variety of smurf merchandise available by BP Australia was mixed and varied. Everything from barbecue aprons, placemats, jigsaws, magnets, photo albums, door signs, red plastic flutes and activity pads. I am sure there are other things BP Australia produced that I am yet to find.
But back to my latest find, on the inside of the front and back covers is The Smurf Gallery. This included a picture of eight smurfs on the inside of the front cover and eight smurfs on the inside the back cover.
- Judge Smurf (#20016)
- Astro (#20003)
- Coin Smurf (#20029)
- Sunbather Smurf (#20014)
- Smurf (#20002)
- Flower Smurf (#20019)
- Vanity Smurf now called Mirror (#20017)
- Keep Fit Smurf now called Gymnast (#20020)
- Spy Smurf (#20008)
- Papa Smurf (#20001)
- Drummer Smurf (#20009)
- Smurfette (#20034)
- Handy Smurf now known as Mechanic (#20012)
- Watchman now known as Lantern (#20024)
- Rocker Smurf now known as Lute (#20013)
- I Hear Nothing Smurf now known as Earache (#20015)
All these smurfs would have been made in Hong Kong and were for sale for just 85cents. The interesting thing to note is the names that they gave the smurfs back then. I would say that these names would have also been used by National in the UK.
Within this gem, I came across something that I never thought I would see, a drawing of a blue Papa Smurf! I showed my husband who has little interest in the smurfs as he prefers Doctor Who, for his opinion and he agreed that it did look like Papa Smurf!
How could BP Australia get this so wrong. So I ask you was this just a genuine mistake or was it meant to be a joke? I wonder what Peyo’s reaction would have been.
Keep on Smurfin
Kath B