[Arno]

It seems that the dutch association Rode neuzen dag has painted red thousands of smurf's noses in 2018 and that these special smurfs were sold in the smurfs expo :

https://www.hln.be/in-de-buurt/vilvoord ... ~ac3782b0/

Sadly, our dutch members are not among us anymore, so we miss many opportunities to get special promo smurfs

[Tommo]

A World Cup Soccer one came up on eBay in August, but I missed out on it. They must be quite common in the Netherlands? Do you know Arno how many they produced?

[The Smurf Collector]

Maybe we should try to contact them via the gmail address they have on the flyer.

I have also tried to win these via eBay this year but was successful.

[Arno]

Well, they speak about collecting 10 000 € : when a smurf was sold 5 €, it makes 2 000 smurfs...
Yes, Kath, of course, I did not see the email address :
fingers crossed

[hfos]

Sadly, our dutch members are not among us anymore, so we miss many opportunities to get special promo smurfs

Yeah sorry about that, I have a million other things going on and smurfs have been the least of my worries .
I see something about a world cup soccer smurf, what/who was that by?

[Tojo]

I've never seen these before, what a brilliant idea. Such a shame they only had them in the Netherlands though...

[Mark]

These are from Belgium, not the Netherlands..

[The Smurf Collector]

Hi Mark, thanks for clarification on this.

By chance, do you know much about the promotion? I would love to get them as they look so cute.

[paolo]

These smurfs first appeared on the exact date of the 60th birthday at the Smurf Experience in Brussels: October 23rd 2018. I was there and just outside the entrance of the ‘experience’, near the concession stands tables after the shop, there was a table with some ladies volunteers for that organization with these sealed bags.

All proceeds were given to charity, so I bought two bags for my collection. They told me, and it was later confirmed at the press conference the IMPS people were holding on the same location, that the noses of all these smurfs were painted red by Peyo’s niece herself.

Therefore, it is important for collectors not to open the sealed bags since a single smurf with a red painted nose cannot be confirmed as original.

I don’t know if they sold them out on that day, or if not where and when else they were sold, but I believe they are limited to that bunch and never produced again.

[The Smurf Collector]

Great to know their background story.

I would love to get my hands on them but I am also concerned people will attempt to counterfeit them.

[Tommo]

Thanks for the info Paolo!! I see these now and again on eBay, but never in a bag and can see how easily they can be faked. Did each bag contain all four smurfs or one smurf in each bag?

[Arno]

Yes, sorry for my mistake : the association is from Belgium, Peyo's home country ; not the Netherlands

[paolo]

These are pictures taken on that day. I believe that all genuine smurfs are sealed in the bag in that precise order. I have seen different arrangements of the four smurfs on ebay, I think that those are not genuine. The one I saw on that day were all in the same order as in the leaflet.

[The Smurf Collector]

Thanks for sharing the photos.

It is also good to get clarification on how these Smurfs were actually sold.

[Arno]

Could you have a piece a cake too ?

[Tojo]

Great information Paolo I like that Peyo's niece was involved with the action too

[Tommo]

I've managed to 'bag' one of these!!!

[The Smurf Collector]

Tommo, I am so jealous of you this is definitely high on my ‘most wanted list’.

Are you going to keep it in the packaging? I know I would but everyone is different when it comes to their own collection.

[Tommo]

Hi Kath,
yes, I'm definitely keeping it in the packaging. I was surprised to find one in the bag. I guess so many of these would have been opened.
cheers, Tommo

[Arno]

Good find Tommo : where did you get them ?