[Fram]

I have in the past tried to find when SEPP stopped its activities, and when IMPS started, to be better able to date Smurfy items with those imprints. The conclusion then was that IMPS was active as early as 1988, and SEPP was definitely still active in 1986, and that some other clues gave the impression that they had existed simultaneously for a while.
I can now say with near certainty that IMPS was founded in 1984 by Veronique Culliford, the daughter of Peyo, and that thus IMPS and SEPP have definitely existed together for a few years at least. I still don't know when SEPP stopped existing (or stopped working for Peyo, as they also produced items for other artists). This may be 1989, when Peyo quit his editor Dupuis, which seemed to be affiliated with SEPP.

[XoioX2000]

That sounds like serious detective work! Thank you for sharing that Fram!

[Syd Smurf]

That's pretty interesting info Fram. I will be going through a lot of my odds and ends and documenting the markings on them or the packaging soon as I have noticed a lot of SEPP markings throughout the stuff. If I find anything that I can add to your research or anything that might be worthwhile mentioning then I will let you know.

Dyar

[puffuonecent]

Sorry but what are IMPS and SEPP

[Fram]

IMPS is the company that is responsible for protecting the copyright of Peyo's characters (his literary estate, if you want). They give out licenses to people that want to make Smurf products, and prosecute people that infringe on their copyright (like websites with the word "Smurf" in the name).

SEPP was a similar company, but more purely merchandising aimed, that existed from somewhere in the seventies until the mid- or late eighties, and that worked for more people than just Peyo (also Roba, ...). On many Smurf products, you can find either the C (copyright) SEPP or C IMPS, and this can be wa way to date them if there is no date otherwise (to put it scientifically, they give us a date post quem and a date ante quem: the product can't be made before or after a certain year).

We had tried to find when IMPS started operating (it obviously still esists), and when SEPP started and folded (or at least stopped working for Peyo). Now I have found a definite starting year for IMPS, so that is a breakthrough (of a not really world shaking order, but I'm happy with small results).

[Rachel]

Hi Fram, interesting topic.

I don't have any really info I am afraid although I will try and check items for SEPP markings to try and gague a date. I did notice though, when we first started Blue Imps, many websites were using a copyright notice which included SEPP, I think some still are. I am not sure why or where they got this from. We used to have it also but IMPS asked us to correct it a couple of years ago. I know this doesn't really help but it would be interesting to know why this started.

[puffuonecent]

Ah thanks.. by the way .. under the foot of one of my smurfs which was produced by Schleich, the Schleich logo is different from that of today... anyone know's anything??

[Syd Smurf]

Ah thanks.. by the way .. under the foot of one of my smurfs which was produced by Schleich, the Schleich logo is different from that of today... anyone know's anything??

Hi puffuonecent

Are you talking about the old Schleich Emblem? Forgive me if that's a stupid question as I am just trying to figure out exactly what you mean.

Dyar

[puffuonecent]

Hi Syd.

yeah that is it. No stupid question at all... it was probably stupid of me .... I figured out that it might be an old logo... however could not figure why they changed it..... seemed nicer....

[Syd Smurf]

I figured out that it might be an old logo... however could not figure why they changed it..... seemed nicer....

I totally agree with you...it's my favourite marking and most likely many others here as well.

Dyar

[Guest]

It's my favourite marking too!

[XoioX2000]

Yeap, I like that marking too!!