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Marking chronology and history 1965-1974

We do not know exactly how the first Schleich smurfs were sold but here is the
story written by Schleich about what happened between 1965 and 1975.

So Schleich tells us the first smurfs were made for BP Holland in 1965 to use
as give away promotion toys.

And this is what BP tells us about the early Schleich smurfs.

So BP tells us they were given the opportunity to get the license for the smurfs in
1969 and then they started selling them for 0,50 cents each when the 1969 campaign
started in 2nd of April. They also tells us that 5 types were used during 1969.

The first newspaper advert from BP looked like this.

As you see it seems Papa smurf( Grote smurf), Brainy( Brilsmurf)and
Normal( Lolsmurf) was used in the beginning of this promotion. So Papa and
Brainy with the moldyear 1969 was probably made for this promotion.

This also tells us Prisoner and Drummer was used. So Angry could have been added
early 1970??, but was also used as give-away in 1966.

So I think the history goes like this: :)

1965

The first three smurfs were made from the same mold according to Schleich.

Only Peyo marked ones.

Unmarked ones.

In late 1965 Schleich made the new mold for the Prisoner, so then these three
were made for BP to use as free promotional gifts.
The first ones had no markings at all or only peyo on the backside of the arm.

1966

In 1966 Schleich made these 3 smurfs to use as give-aways by BP Holland.
Then made without any markings or with only Peyo on the arm. Spy got the
Peyo marking on the back of the leg instead since he has no visable arms on
the backside.

In the mid or late 60s Schleich had a picture of the Prisoner smurf in their
promoprospect. At this time Schleich only made the smurfs for BP Holland to use in their promotion.

1969

When the 1969 campaign started BP had not used the PVC smurfs in 2 years.
These 2 were made for this campaign and sold together with normal in april 1969.
Still only Peyo on the arm.

All these 10 smurfs had no markings under the feets in the beginning.
But Spy and Gold was not used in the campaign starting in April 1969.

The early ones also had feets with softer edges, abgerundet. As you see on these
pictures with the ones without Schleichmarkings to the right on all pictures.

We have a few pictures from 1969 and early 1970 which shows the 6 other
smurfs.

The five smurfs used in the BP promotion in Holland are mentioned in this article written in 1970.

Here is the oldest dated picture of a Schleich smurf I have seen.
October 1969, Drummer.

Also this picture from october 1969 with seven smurfs.

This advert also mention the anti-vries smurf "Shiver".

As you can read in the Schleich book and the BP research both companies were taken
by surprise by the success. And as written the manufacturer because of this success
started thinking marketing these elsewhere also. I think that was when they added
the Schleich emblem on the smurfs. That probably happened during late 1969.

The first emblem marking looked like this. You can find it on all 23 smurf molds
Schleich made before 1974 except the last one, poet. As far as I know. :)

From 1969 and to the year when Schleich lost the license in 1974 a lot of changes
were made. You can read about the changes for each mold under each specific smurf.
Here are a few examples though. :)

Emblem marking changes. Both cavity 1. Oldest emblem to the right.

Mold changes. Two-piece mold changed to one-piece mold.

Colour differences.

1970 Verkeer smurf

There is one thing that should be mentioned here though. I have always though
flowersmurf had a strange pose with the hand in front, making like a stop sign.
I am pretty sure the reason for this is that it was not made as a flower smurf at first.

BP writes this in early 1970.

And here are some of the ads and items used in 1970.

You can see that the verkeer smurf always has one hand on the back and one
hand making the stop or slow down sign. Also closed eyes.

Therefore I am also sure this smurf originally was made as a traffic safety smurf. Then
without flower and only red painted mouth. And old emblem off course. :)

I think the reason for the 1972 year on this mold is that it was in 1972 they started
selling and naming it as a flower smurf. :)

Een Smurfboekje 1969

As you can see in the first add from April 1969 you could get a small booklet for free with the
figurines. This is probably the first and oldest booklet for the PVC smurfs. :)

As you can see the same advert is in the booklet. :)

1971 Schleich started selling Smurfs

It seems Schleich started selling the Smurfs in 1971 and had them in their catalogue.

So they started with 10 smurfs and added laughing early in 1971.
Then Lute and Mechanic were added in May 1971.
In autumn 1971 they added three more; Judge, Sunbather and Earache.

The articlenumbers were like this:

370 Schloumpfine, Smurfette
371 Mondschloumpf, Astro
372 Winterschloumpf, Shiver
373 Goldschloumpf, Gold
374 Brillenträger, Brainy
375 Wütender, Angry
376 Verschwörer, Spy
377 Trommler, Drummer
378 Sträfling, Prisoner
379 Rotschloumpf, Papa
379/1 Lachschloumpf, Laughing
379/2 Dichterschloumpf, Lute
379/3 Mechanikerschloumpf, Mechanic
? Juristenschloumpf, Judge
? Schlafschloumpf, Sunbather
? Nix-hören schloumpf, Earache

Notice that the Normal Smurf was not sold then.

The name Schloumpf was changed to Schlumpf in 1972.