[André]

Here are the articlenumbers on that poster.

[André]

3 of the normalsmurfs on this poster are prototypes.

Those were the first ones getting the new Schleich logo.

Lover, digger and flute.

All other smurfs can be found without the new Schleich logo.

[André]

I wrote that the postman was the first getting the new style of the Peyo marking, but actually the Olympiansmurf or torchbearer was the first.

That would also tell us that it was most likely made this year and also that the first variation had the belgium Lion on the cheast. Or it was made already from the beginning both with and without the Olympic emblem on the cheast.

the first variation should not have the printed Schleichlogo on the arm.

[André]

Here are the information regarding the playsets and accessories sold in 1978. As you see the only items sold were 4 playsets, large house, large house playset, the cottages, the fingerpuppets, and the sharpeners.

[André]

Now to the new supersmurfs and their markings. This was the first time Schleich sold supersmurfs. As you see they gave Gargamel and Azrael articlenumber 40207, which was used for the angler in 1979. I do not think Gargamel was ever released with this articlenumber in 1978. the mold existed then but it was released the first time in 1979 then with articlenumber 40211. ??

[bundleofkent]

Great stuff Andre!

Two quick points:

1. Schleich made the first big house in 1976 although they did not have the license at the time. Is this correct?

2. The photo of the HK cottage on the box is not uncommon when you see some of the super smurf boxes eg boxer par allel bars hurdler motocross push bike etc etc not sure why Schleich did this!!!

Thanks again Andre

Martin

[André]

1. Schleich made the first big house in 1976 although they did not have the license at the time. Is this correct?

Martin

Good questions Martin

Regarding the first question my guess is like this.

I do not Think Schleich would have been able to start making smurfs and accessories without license so I am pretty sure Peyo approved they manufacturing smurfs and making molds again already in 1976.

Probably Everything had to do with the smurf-Movie shown in 1976 and Stuart Ross wanting smurfs for the american market.

Most likely Volkmar Klaus did not have capacity to manufacture enough smurfs in 1976. I am sure that the smurfs sold in 1977 at BP in Holland was made both by Bully and Schleich. The new Schleichsmurfs sold in 1977 is also shown on the Bullyposter, so they were definatly licensed. the thing is that Schleich was not allowed to sell them in Germany then and had to go through Bully. Bully did not have the license for the smurfs in Holland, UK, USA etc..

And then when also BP had plans for UK in 1977 and the following success, made Peyo giving Schleich the sole rights in 1980. But I Think the Schleich book tells us it cost them a lot of money, so maybe they just paid enough to Peyo to give them the sole rights and it had nothing to do with Peyo beeing not pleased with Bully??

[André]

2. The photo of the HK cottage on the box is not uncommon when you see some of the super smurf boxes eg boxer par allel bars hurdler motocross push bike etc etc not sure why Schleich did this!!!

Martin

Also an interesting question.

As you say this is not that rare on the boxes. But in most cases the HK supersmurf was made pre or at least almost at the same time in Germany and Hongkong. Motocross and smurf on Scooter was sold the same year in US as in germany so I Think they used the HK mold on those. Boxer, Hurdler, Parallell bars was made in Hongkong for BP Australia already in 1980. So in most of these cases I Think it could have been that the Hongkong-mold existed Before the german mold and was the one used for the boxes??

But I do not know where the Hongkong-cottage could have been sold already in 1978. Most likely it was already made in 1978 and Schleich had plans to sell it somewhere and maybe did?? Probably Schleich started making smurfs in Hongkong already in 1977 so it is possible they made the first mold for the Cottage??

[André]

regarding the first supersmurfs.

As far as I know the Sledder is the only supersmurf with the schleichemblem. So it was definatly the first one made.

Off course this is if you do not count the gardener. Bot the gardener and the wheelbarrow existed pre the introduction of the supersmurfs.

As you see many of the old boxes had a number stamped in them. Not all of them have this. I do not know why and to me it seems they were using these numbers a lot around 1980??

When looking at the first Picture of the Sledder on the poster from 1978 it is also definatly not a prototype.

[André]

The sledder was first sold in germany, but already for Christmas 1978 it was possible to buy in UK.

W berrie did not sell the sledder until 1982 and then in the german box with a US-sticker.

I have found both sleds with emblem-marking and completly unmarked ones in old Collections. Most likely it was first marked with the emblem. Seems a bit odd if they added the emblem after it had been sold for a while and then Schleich had stopped with the emblem??

Otherwise both the sled and the smurf have the same style on the markings.

The yellowscarfed sledder was, if I would guess, not the first release in UK. I Think it was first sold with the red scarf?

[André]

Last one today is the chimney sweeper.

Most likely this one was made just when Schleich stopped with the emblem. No emblem and no Schleich S marking.

It also has this very strange and different marking compared to the other smurfs. Only one more have this marking?

My guess is that the jazztrumpetplayer was made the same time as the Chimney sweeper. Both the marking and the articlenumber is a perfect match for that. Added among the last ones Before Schleich started with the new logo.

But it is very strange it later got the moldyear 1974?? Could have been that the mold was made just when Schleich lost the license but it was never completly finished??

What is your guess regarding that smurf?

Same here with the yellowscarfed chimneysweeper. I do not Think it was the first release in the UK. Sold the first time for christmas 1978 in UK.

To be continued.....

[bundleofkent]

Thanks for the answers Andre, I reckon your reasoning is very sound. I just wish more historical records were kept by Schleich!!!

[André]

All accessories sold in the playsetboxes 1-4 was made Before the new printed Schleich logo was made and can be found without that logo.

Except the grass!!! I have never seen that accessorie with the emblem.

It is also not shown on the poster from 1978 so it could be that it was added just when they made the logo-change??

If anyone have the grass with emblemlogo please let me know.

Hi Andre,

I have the grass with the emblem.

I hope it is OK that I answer my own question.

The grass can have the emblem but it is not that common on old accessories.

So all of the accessories made pre playset 5 can be found without the Schleich S logo.

[André]

Thanks for the answers Andre, I reckon your reasoning is very sound. I just wish more historical records were kept by Schleich!!!

Today I will continue with the next supersmurf.

But first a few historical facts especially for Martin and other UK collectors.

Luckily their are other ways getting facts, since we can not get them from Schleich.

First you can read that already in 1976 the plans for the UK campaign started. So, as we talked about before, this together with the plans starting in 1976 for the US release, probably got Schleich back manufacturing smurfs for Peyo.

[André]

When the campaign started in 20th May 1978 ten smurfs were available to get in the launchingpack. Normal, Papa, Brainy, Smurfette, Mechanic, Astro, Drummer, Rocker( guitarist), Gardener and Spy. All these except Brainy and Mechanic are shown on the first leaflet made for the National Campaign which I have. The large house and the garden playset was also sold from the beginning.

On this National-picture from summer 1978 you can see all the 10 smurfs sold already in May 1978. They also added the sunbather and the swimmer early in the campaign. This was pre the mustard dots and as you see the red pants sunbather existed already pre the dots.

Still at this time only one playset was available and only the large house.

[André]

And off course we need a christmas-picture also.

The cottages and the fenceplayset was first time sold for Christmas 1978. Together with these smurfs and 4 new supersmurfs. Skateboarder and tricycle was sold already in fall 1978 in UK.

Regarding the yellow scarves on Chimney and Sledder they are shown on National-pictures from early 1979, so maybe they were sold like that from the beginning? But maybe not?

Postman smurf with christmas envelope was the first variation sold in the UK.

[André]

Regarding the order of the regular smurf figurines sold in the beginning in the UK it was like this:

First as said the 10 figurines available from the beginning.

Then 17 July 1978 they added these:

Swimmer, Sunbather, Hiker, Clown and Hangglider. Also the 2 first supersmurfs Skateboarder and tricycle. 36p each and 49p for the supersmurfs.

Then in December 1978: Postman, Gift, Hammer, Carolling, Shiver, Thinker, Ice Hockey and Singer. And then the 4 new supersmurfs: Skier, Sledder, Chimney sweeper and Gardener( as supersmurf( both wheelbarrow and gardner was sold from the beginning as loose smurf and in gardenset)).

Only one more smurf could have been possible to buy in 1978 in the UK. The first date for the Striker or Soccer smurf is in April 1979 sold in the colours of the FA Cup semifinalists( see picture) but it could have been sold during autumn 1978 also? But also it could have been added in early 1979.

If I would guess I would say summer 1978 though together with the poster for the Smurf Cup made then??

In february 1979 the postman with heart motif was sold for valentines day.

The petrol attendant was added in March 1979.

April 1979 FA Cup strikers.

May 1979 supersmurf Angler.

June 1979 Tennis smurf. Etc...

The display was sold the first time for Christmas 1978.

[André]

Regarding when they started with the mustard dots in late 1978. If you look at the new smurfs added in december 1978 both singer and Thinker was added then. My guess is that the yellow dots I have found on many smurfs sold in the UK on for example Thinker and Singer, but also on Hiker and soccer, was made in late 1978 when they started with the dots on the UK smurfs. Since a few of these smurfs in the beginning was painted in germany they got the yellow dot instead. Most of these were later replaced by smurfs painted in Portugal with mustard dots, but thinker was always painted in Germany as far as I know?

[André]

The first Picture of the Skier is from Gerdas poster from 1978.

[André]

No, not the Skier. Tricycle is next.