We are pleased to announce the discovery of a previously undocumented Smurf-a-Gram:

"The Candy Store" in Johnstown, Pennsylvania!

HOW MANY PRICE GUIDES HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED TO DATE?

Three or four in Europe, three in the U.S.? None of them feature a promotional Smurf-A-Gram produced for an American Company!

WHY IT IS RARE:

- Most advertising Smurf items were produced by Schleich for European companies...This advertising Smurf-A-Gram was produced by Wallace Berrie for an American company!

- Most advertising items do not have a production date and we do not know how many were produced...This advertising Smurf-A-Gram was produced in 1981, with an edition size of just 1200 pieces!

HISTORY:

"The Candy Store" is a small "Mom & Pop" type penny candy and gift store in the rural town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1981, while Smurf madness was in full swing in the United States, the owners contacted Wallace Berrie to produce a special promotional Smurf-a-Gram. The piece features 20090 "Jester" on a yellow triangular base and reads "The Candy Store Johnstown, Pa." in white letters.

This piece was not widely distributed. It was available only from this small store for a short period of time. The piece was unknown to collectors until we recently discovered a small cache of Mint in Bag pieces, which had never been sold!

The find has been documented and authenticated by the Smurf Collectors Club International. It will be featured in an upcoming issue of the SCCI newsletter, and will also appear in the next edition of the German Smurf Katalog.