History of the Smurfs

Smurf collecting is a growing hobby worldwide and the internet is now enabling people to source Smurfs from all corners of the globe.

Many UK Smurf collectors have only just rediscovered the Smurfs, and both seasoned and new Smurf collectors are enjoying the revival of these popular 70's and 80's toys.

Created in the 1950's by Peyo, these little blue characters have popped up in various places in the UK over the years, National Garages used them in their petrol promotions in the late 1970's and McDonalds also produced a range to accompany Happy Meals in more recent years.

In December 1959, the first Smurf figurines were introduced by Dupuis, the editor of the Smurf comics. It was not until 1965 that the first Schleich smurf figurines were made, these are the same figurines which are still in production today. From 1965, 100 different figures were produced each year, up until the year 2000. Since 2001 only 50 different smurf figures have been in current production.

In the early 1980s, Hanna-Barbera  gave us the animated cartoon series of the smurfs in the American market. This brought the smurf characters into the homes and hearts of children everywhere.

So why are Smurfs gaining popularity once again in the UK? Before the internet and also the discovery of eBay, many people didn't realise that Smurfs were still being produced. What you do tend to find though, is that out of all their childhood toys, many people chose to keep their Smurfs. These handpainted figurines will stand the test of time, they are not only an excellent childhood toy, but they should also be considered an investment for the future.

Smurf Questions

Why are some of the vintage smurfs so expensive?
Smurfs are retired by Schleich periodically and therefore no longer produced. Occasionally particular moulds are reintroduced in later years. The more expensive smrufs are obviously the "hard to find" ones, especially in MINT condition, Fix & Foxi Smurfs are a good example of a rare smurf.

How can we find out more about smurfs and their value?
Der Schlumpf Katalog is a wonderful smurf price guide book with lots of smurf pictures and guide values in euros. Please note that this should be treated as a guide only, as just like any other collectible, a Smurf's value depends very much on condition and the current marketplace.