Fix & Foxi Smurfs

The history of the Fix & Foxi Promo

In Smurf terms the name "Fix & Foxi" is very much associated with Sweden, although Fix & Foxi was actually a German cartoon magazine/comic created by Rolf Kauka in the early 1950s. Fix and Foxi being two small foxes who were full of mischief!

In 1958 Fix & Foxi magazine was published for the first time in Sweden by Swedish publishers Förlagshuset Norden. The Swedish market didn't respond favourably to this new comic and it was eventually discontinued in 1961.

An attempt was made in 1979 to relaunch the Fix & Foxi comic, this time by Skandinavisk Press. After only 65 editions printed, the comic was once again discontinued in 1981. It was during 1979 - 1981 that the Smurfs were featured in the magazines. To try and tempt people to buy the comic there was an incentive, a free Smurf presented in a gold box! This free "Fix & Foxi" Smurf was to become one of the most sought after collectible items in the Smurf world today.

It was the 1979 and 1980 editions of the Fix & Foxi comic that offered the well known "Fix & Foxi Promo Smurf" as a free gift when you subscribed to the publication. The actual wording read as this: -

"You get a fun smurf (which can’t be bought in any stores) in a nice box. And it’s all for free, if you decide to subscribe to Fix & Foxi within 14 days….."

In 1980, the 1st Fix & Foxi edition of that year featured another offer which just mentioned a free Smurf and did not specify the Fix & Foxi Smurf. The page from this edition of the comic actually shows number 2.0086 Gift Smurf as an example of the free smurf!

In 1981, the Smurfs were no longer offered as free gifts and as mentioned previously, the comic was to be discontinued within that same year..

The Fix & Foxi Promo Smurfs can therefore be dated to 1979 or 1980 making them at least 25 years old!

In early 2005, Kitty's Cavern Ltd were lucky enough to be part of a find made in Finland, a European country bordered by Sweden and Norway to the north. A quantity of original Fix & Foxi Promotional Smurfs were found and some with original gold boxes. It appears that this stock was never distributed and has just sat in an old warehouse for many years. All of the Smurfs from this find had Schleich Emblem markings, this particular marking was thought to have been used only until 1979/80. There were also two different paint variations from this find, the more traditional darker blue colour and also a lighter blue version.

Fix & Foxi paint variations shown from front.

Fix & Foxi paint variations shown from side.

Fix & Foxi paint variations shown from back, note the unpainted tail, another variation.

 

We would like to thank Anette, owner of the Swedish Smurf Shop Svampbyn, for her help with compiling this information.

And also Tor Linqvist for his permission to use pictures and for his help with translations.

Fix & Foxi Smurfs are now available from our Smurf Shop!