How many variants of Harp Smurf exist?

The Smurf Collector’s Club International (SCCI) tells me there are only three variations of Harp Smurf #20070. However, a friend of mine tells me there are six different variations. What do you think?

The first question one must ask oneself is how you determine your different variations. Some of us will look at colour difference, whereas others look at markings. But others will look at both.

Sometimes understanding who produced a particular Smurf can help you. Harp Smurf was first made by Bully between 1976 to 1979 then Schleich from 1980 to 1986. Along with Wallace Berrie/Applause in 1983 and 1984.

The Smurfs must be one of the few figurines that have the markings of one company but are made by another. For example, a Smurf with Bully markings was also sold by Schleich between 1980 to 1984. Fortunately, there were other details that Schleich adopted for Harp Smurf to differentiate it from earlier ones made by Bully. Such as a wider face and darker blue skin. Also, the early ones had no eyebrows.

One could say that Wallace Berrie used the same technique because they painted Harp Smurf with shiny dark colours.

SCCI Harp Variations

Here are the three different versions listed by SCCI in newsletter 10 published in Fall 1986.

1. Yellow harp
2. Yellow/gold harp
3. Red harp

Note the SCCI rarely talks about marking variations only colour differences. In some cases, I find this is odd because I would have thought this to be an easy way to explain variations pre-internet.

My friend’s Harp Variations

1. Peyo on the back of the harp
2. Bully under the foot (hand etched) and Peyo on the arm (hand etched)
3. Peyo on the arm (hand etched). W.Germany Bully under the foot (printed).
   without/with eyebrows
4. W.Germany Bully Peyo under the feet (printed). Peyo on arm (hand etched) is blocked out.
   with eyebrows
5. W.Germany Schleich S Peyo. (Schleich S covers Bully marking).
   The other markings are the same as version 4
6. Hong Kong W. Berrie &Co. Schleich S 1974 (totally new markings)
   Peyo on the arm (hand etched)

In my opinion, there are five variations of Harp Smurf based on the five different markings. I like to collect Smurfs with different markings and will look at this first when considering adding a Smurf to my collection.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

What do you think of Harp Smurf? Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments!