Retro Smurf Review: Teacher Smurf #20059

We can learn a lot from Teacher Smurf. Teacher Smurf holds a book in one hand and makes his point with his other hand. The Smurf Collectors Club in newsletter 9 published in 1988 tells us there are three different versions. What do you think?

Red book with black lettering
Brown book with red lettering
Brown book with black lettering

Though there is so much more to add when comparing Teacher Smurfs. Firstly, the texture of the pages can vary. The earlier ones have a ribbed texture whereas more recent ones have a smoother feel.

Also the style of the lettering can vary from thin to thick. Depending on the photo, this can be hard to see. On both the Schleich and W. Berrie versions of the letters are ABCD. But the CNT version has more of a black scribble on the pages.

As well as that, there are also books that are completely blank. however I am not sure whether it was intentional or not. Mostly these seem to be red books.

Lastly, the thickness of the yellow bookmark can vary. Yet not all collectors mention this when comparing their Teacher Smurfs. In my opinion it’s worth noting because it’s a point of difference between Smurfs. Others refer to it as something to do with the mould used to make the Smurf.

Regardless of how you measure differences with Smurfs, I recommend Teacher Smurf is worthy for every collection. Mainly, because we all remember a teacher who used to demonstrate their knowledge or make a point of something.

Keep on Smurfin
Kath B

In case you are interested in Teacher Smurfs, here are some found on the toydreamer website

http://www.toydreamer.com.au/search1.asp?searchword=teacher&toytype=searching

Teacher Smurf makes his point

Teacher Smurf can be found holding a book in his left hand and points with his point with his right hand. On the first version the book was painted brown with the black letters ABCD on the pages and a yellow bookmark. This was later changed to a red book. Both had the same markings – W.Germany Schleich S © 1980 Peyo markings. Schleich sold Teacher from 1980 to 1986/1991 – 1992/1996 – 1997/2000 – 2001.

The Hong Kong version has always come with a red book with black letters ABCD on the pages and a yellow bookmark. Some collectors make a note of the thickness of the black letters and the yellow bookmark compared to the Schleich made ones.

The Hong Kong one was produced with two different markings – Made in Hong Kong Schleich S © 1980 Peyo and Made in Hong Kong W. Berrie Co Schleich S © 1980 Peyo markings. Teacher was produced out of Hong Kong between 1981 to 1983.

There was also a Teacher made out of China. There are at least two different markings that can be found – M.China Schleich S Germany © 1980 Peyo CE. (small CE) and Made in China Schleich S Germany © 80 Peyo CE (large thin CE)

Check out the old catalogues

In the 1980 Schleich catalogue which was used through to 1984 it shows Teacher with a brown book with black scribble on the pages. It is unclear if Schleich ever released this version.

In the W. Berrie catalogues, you will notice in 1981 they display Teacher holding a book with red lettering (can’t see the colour of the book). In the 1982 catalogue they show Teacher holding a red book with black lettering.

Triangle Pedestals

There are also a number of triangle pedestals that used the Teacher figurine. There are American, English, French, Nordic and promotional ones to be found. From personal experience when buying a triangle pedestal check out the older catalogues to ensure it is genuine first. There is nothing worse than buying a triangle pedestal in a foreign language to find it was not actually released like this.

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B

Snippets from the catalogues taken from thecursedcountry.com

Spotting a paint error on a Smurf

Have you ever found a paint error with a Smurf? Sometimes something goes wrong at the painting stage, which results in some weird looking smurfs. To find a smurf with a paint error, is pretty amazing when one comes to think about it. Considering how much quality control measures are out there. But for me, nothing beats finding a smurf with a paint error.

So what is a paint error? A paint error can be anything that has not been painted or painted in a different colour. In my opinion these are not variations, these are just genuine mistakes. For example it is not all that uncommon to find smurfs with unpainted tails, smiles, legs or something on the mould.

It should be noted though when smurfs were first produced back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s there were a number of smurfs that did not have any eyebrows. This was not a paint error, this appears to be deliberate thing. However it is not uncommon to find some of these early smurfs where people have drawn on their own eyebrows. Good examples of these include the small moulds of Sitting, Thinker and Coin.

Some paint errors are quite obvious. Others are a little harder to notice at first glance. Some collectors feel that without having doubles of a smurf, they cannot see the differences. Other collectors deliberately look out for paint errors on smurfs to add to their collection. I must have confess I am occasionaly guilty of this.

Take for example Teacher Smurf, Schleich Ref# 20059. It was first produced with a brown book cover with ‘abcd’ written in black on the pages. The brown paint used for the cover can vary but this is not paint error just different batches of brown paint used.

Later it was produced with a red book cover with ‘abcd’ written in black on the pages. The black writing can vary from thin to thick. This is not paint error just a different style used by the painter.

Now I have Teacher Smurf that I am not sure if you call this a variation or series of paint errors. There are no letters in his book, his smile and eyelids are also unpainted. It is also mentioned in the Der Schlumpf Katalog IV published in 2003 and is for sale on the Toy Dreamer website so it must be variation and not a paint error. Right?

Keep on Smurfin

Kath B