Happy New Year and welcome Smurf Fans to the January 2003 Smurfy News! - a free e-mail newsletter from www.MushroomVillage.com! This issue is sent to 2,495 voluntary opt-in members. Welcome to our new subscribers! (Reminder: All our members have requested to be on this list, we do not spam! We also respect your privacy and we never sell, rent, share or distribute your contact information in any way!) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= We have our big news earlier than usual this year, the new 2003 Smurfs have been announced, and we are accepting preorders right now! Read all about it below... We also have A LOT of new listings this month, make sure you check out the link to our new stock, many all-new items - full details below! We also have lots more for you this month - I have a packed mailbag, and so I'm going to do a little catching up there, I have member reports on their recollections of Laconia, the Smurfs' mute friend, I have some 'insider info' from Schleich, and we have a winner for our Baseball Smurfette contest, not to mention a new contest! So let's Smurf on with it! -Pete www.MushroomVillage.com =-=-=-=-= CONTENTS =-=-=-=-= 1) NEW IN THE SMURF SHOP 2) 2003 SMURFS ARE HERE! 3) FROM THE MAILBAG 4) LACONIA 5) 100TH INTL. TOY FAIR 6) INSIDER INFO 7) SMURFY NEWS GIVE-A-WAY 8) CLOSING =============================================== -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 1) NEW IN THE SMURF SHOP -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Among our most exciting "New" items this month are the 2003 Smurfs. No, they are not in stock yet, but we are accepting preorders at a special price which includes free world-wide shipping, handling and delivery insurance! The price *will* go up once the figurines arrive, so please place your orders now! You can preorder the new 2003 Smurfs from the banner ad near the top of our home page, or the bulletin board pages. See below for more on the new figurines. We have also continued our ambitious effort to identify markings on pieces currently in stock, including any new stock we get in. Speaking of new stock, check out these "back-in-stock" pieces this month: 20004 Shiver (red) [Markings: stickman logo, no paint dot] 20007 Angry (small mold, black teeth) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20010 Prisoner [Markings: Hong Kong, stickman logo, no paint dot] 20026 Sitting [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20034 Smurfette (flirting) [Markings: Bully] 20084 Handstand (yellow pants) [Markings: None] 20130 Graduation (blue) [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20205 Baby with Teddy [Markings: CE, light blue paint dot] 20213 Little Devil (pink) [Markings: CE, Germany, blue paint dot] 20411 Azrael [Markings: CE, Germany] 20418 Gargamel (hands up) [Markings: CE, Germany] 20421 Smurfette w/ flower [Markings: CE, Germany] 20442 Inline Skater [Markings: CE, Germany, light blue paint dot] 20452 Snowboarder [Markings: CE, Germany, Portugal, light blue paint dot] 20453 Snowboarder Smurfette [Markings: CE, Germany, light blue paint dot] 20454 World Cup Soccer [Markings: CE, Germany, light blue paint dot] 20455 Tourist [Markings: CE, China, Germany, light blue paint dot] 20464 Studious Smurf [Markings: CE, China, Germany, light blue paint dot] 20465 Fireman [Markings: CE, China, Germany, light blue paint dot] 40201 Bobsled (old box) 40203 Tricycle (old box) 40209 Butterfly catcher (old box) 40210 Car Driver (old box) 40214 Hobby Horse (new box) 40217 Photographer (new box) 40224 Blackboard (math) [Markings: Figure: CE, Germany, blue paint dot; Easel: West Germany] 40503 Discus Thrower (old box) 40505 Ice Hockey With Net (old box) 49001 Large Mushroom House (red/orange roof) Endress + Hauser (Pyrometer Smurf) 20093 Tennis Player (Omo promo, long racquet) [Markings: None, red paint dot] And we also have some all-new pieces in this month, including many non-PVC items: 20058 Champion (BP Promo) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20058 Champion (BP Promo 75 on Chest) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] Kinder 2001 set (Smurfette skateboard) Kinder 2001 set (Climber Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Archer Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Gymnast Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Tennis Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Golf Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Trophy Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Fisherman Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Pool toy Smurf) Kinder 2001 set (Papa Smurf) MIP Smurf Curtains - 2 x 30" x 24" per package [Markings: Wallace Berrie] MIP Smurf Party Blowouts [Markings: Wallace Berrie] MIP Smurf Party Balloons [Markings: Wallace Berrie] MIP Smurf Party Loot Bags [Markings: Wallace Berrie] MIP Smurf Party Horns [Markings: Wallace Berrie] Pop-Up Playset -Smurf Play Village [Markings: Wallace Berrie box] Pop-Up Playset - Gargamel's Castle [Markings: Wallace Berrie box] Pop-Up Playset -Smurf Sports Village [Markings: Wallace Berrie box] Also, take another look at our raws! Our price for raws has been lowered across the board! Here is a link to the raws: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&maxhits=20&keywords=raw&bool=AND AOL Click Here! We have also replenished our supply of 1996 Kinders, and 2001 Maxi-Kinders, *AND* lowered our price on all! Please use this link to see our Kinder Smurfs. These are our favorite Smurf figurines after Schleich's, and are also a cross-over collectible sought by Kinder toy collectors, so we feel they are a good investment. Check our Kinders out here: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&maxhits=20&keywords=kinder&bool=AND AOL Click Here! To check out all the new and updated listings for this moth, please use this link: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=id&maxhits=20&keywords=new0103 AOL Click Here! WE DON'T WANT TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG BUT... We have *many* exciting mew pieces in store for next month - just a teaser - look for new Smurf-a-Grams (on square, triangle, and MUSICAL!!), all-new raws, and very hard to find MIB Smurf Stampers! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 2) 2003 SMURFS ARE HERE! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The official word is out! Schleich mailed catalogs to their dealers in December showing 8 new Smurfs for 2003. (Normally, Schleich does not officially release details until the Numremburg toy show, later in the next year, but this year an effort was made to be ready to roll with the New Year.) At this point, I have only seen the front view of the new pieces, but here's what I can see: 20517 Hippie Smurf - This Smurf is standing with his left fist on his hip, and he's giving a "thumbs-up" with his right hand. He has some sort of stringed instrument (like a guitar) slung on his back with a blue strap. He seems to be bare-chested, with only a leather vest. He is wearing green bell-bottom pants with a large peace sign belt buckle. He has a yellow polka-dotted pink bandana tied around his forehead and is wearing a gold hoop earring in his right ear. He has a rose tattooed on his left arm. White shoes. 20518 New Basketball Smurf - Guarding the ball he is dribbling with his right hand by holding out his left hand. White sneakers and socks with black laces. His red shorts have white stripes down the sides, his red top has black details and a white number "7" on the front. 20519 Hip Hop Smurf - This Smurf is standing with a radio held up on his right shoulder. He is wearing gray shoes, blue jeans, a red T-shirt with a pink collared, button-down shirt (unbuttoned and untucked of course) over it and a pair of yellow sunglasses. The black, gray and red radio has speakers at each end, and a cassette deck in the middle. 20520 New Techno - Wearing loose-fitting, baggy-to-the-floor red pants with a big silver belt buckle on his brown belt. Bare-chested with what looks like a fur vest. He looks like he is wearing a necklace of nails, spikes or horns. He might be dancing? 20521 Cyber Smurf - This Smurf is in his own world! He is standing and playing a virtual reality video game. He is wearing long yellow pants and an orange sweat shirt. At his feet is gray, purple and yellow console which reads "Virtual Race" in black letters. Black Wires lead up to the hand-held game control and he sees and hears the game play through a pair of pink goggles and black/black earphones. 20522 Workaholic Smurf - This Smurf is sitting on an inflatable tube but still won't take a break from his laptop! The yellow tube has brown rope on it, and what looks like some sort of platform attached to it that the Smurf has a drink on. He is sipping his drink through a straw as he works. He is wearing only a pink, green and yellow bathing suit. 20523 Show Off Smurf - This Smurf has his right hand on his belt and a red/silver can in his left hand. The can might say "LIME" on it. He is wearing dark blue jeans with light blue patches. He is wearing a black belt with a silver buckle. He is wearing a yellow T-shirt under a leather vest. He is wearing a studded bracelet on his right wrist, and has a silver earring in his right ear. 20524 Trendy Smurfette - This Smurfette is standing with her right hand held up. I have a feeling she is supposed to be paired with another Smurf, who shoulder her hand rests on? She is wearing dark colored shoes. Her artificially faded jeans are bell-bottomed, low-riders, showing her belly button (just like many of the young girls here in NYC!) She seems to be wearing only a leather jacket with long sleeves and scalloped edging. She also seems to be wearing a choker with a stone or diamond at the center. The new 2003 Smurfs were being offered by some online dealers for January 1, 2003 delivery. These dealers now have unhappy customers on their hands, because that date was just plain wrong! All of the new figurines are shipping simultaneously from China well after January. Schleich Germany should get theirs only a little bit before Schleich NA, they will not have them sooner, as some European dealers think. Schleich NA expects to have them in their warehouse and ready to ship well before March 1, 2003. The rest of Schleich's new 2003 line (animals, etc.) *were* available January 1st, *NOT* the Smurfs. I'm guessing this was misunderstood by many dealers. With the new Smurfs come the retirees. There are eight Smurfs being retired, leaving the current range at 50 styles (The 'Golden 50'). The Smurfs being retired are 20118 Umbrella, 20215 Baby in Car, 20438 Mobile Phone, 20453 Snowboarder Smurfette, 20454 World Cup Soccer, 20455 Tourist, 20461 Leather Trousers and 20472 Referee. To view the current "Golden 50" (Figurines in current production) use this link: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=id&maxhits=20&keywords=gld50&bool=AND AOL Click Here There are no new Super Smurfs, or any other new playsets, buildings, etc. for 2003. However, five Super Smurfs are being discontinued. They are 40254 Motor Scooter Smurfette, 40256 Silver Racing Driver, 40257 Schoolbench Sleeping, 40258 Schholbench Talking and 40260 Principal. MushroomVillage.com is accepting preorders for the new 2003 Smurf set right now! These full sets of 8 pieces are being offered at a discounted price that includes FREE shipping, handling and delivery insurance anywhere in the world! The figurines will be available individually once they have arrived at eSmurfs.com. To preorder now, please visit this link: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-latest.html AOL click here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 3) SMURF MAILBAG =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "I have been collecting smurfs for decades and you provide me with access to information and enjoyment I can't get anywhere else. Thanks! -bjeexec@xxxxx.com, Buffalo, NY" "I am a big Smurf fan and I'm excited to be a new subscriber to this newsletter! -Miss Susan E. Smith, Orillia, Ontario, Canada" "It is so nice to hear of others that share the same love of the SMURFS!! -diannasmustang@xxxxx.com, Copperas Cove, TX "My roommate found your site through a search engine a few months ago and decided that our new hobby would be to collect smurfs through your site we have obtained close to fifty smurfs and counting. We love what you do and thank you for keeping Peyo's work alive. Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Jenn, Clearwater, FL" --- I am pleased I continue to receive many e-mails like this each week - we are certainly still growing strong! Thank you all for your support and contributions to the community here at www.MushroomVillage.com! -Pete ----- "Hi Pete, have a great holiday season. All my smurf ornaments are on the tree. Fun to listen to guests ask 'who are these blue people?'; then I let them enter my Smurf room and they go nuts--especially the kids. So glad you have a site so I can continue to add to my collection. Thanks, Liz, Athens, GA" "I am a Grandmother, and have been collecting Smurfs for about 8 years. My basement is like a toy store, and when my grandkids and great nieces and nephews visit their Eyes are like saucers, and are really good about not touching anything in the prize collection, but I have spares that I let them play with, and that makes them happy, Shirley Young "Collecting Granny," Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada" "As I always say, Keep up the good work. We love your website and all that you are doing for us "smurfers". By the way, did you ever find a smurf ceiling fan? LeAndra & J.B. McDonald, Sterling, OK" --- Oh, this talk of Smurf rooms makes me so jealous! Yes, I did get a Smurf fan, but unfortunately it is not complete. It appears to be missing something to attach it to the ceiling. Also, the light dome is gone, and the Smurfy transfers on the blades are peeling. I guess it's a tall order considering these are over 20 years old! If anyone can help with replacement parts, or even another fan, I would appreciate it! Just hit reply now. Before we know it, it will be warm again, and my little Smurfs will need some cooling off! I also plan on building a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling shelving/display unit against one wall, and I finished moving some cable and phone jacks away from that wall in preparation recently. I wanted to put my desk in the center of the room, running electricity and other wires to it under the rug, but have been told that's not a good idea, or legal :( So I have to rethink where I will place the desk. I already have Smurf cases planned for all four walls! I also received a box of Mint-in-packages Smurf curtains for the windows! I saw some unopened rolls of Smurf wallpaper on eBay, but I have a ton of poster for the walls already, so I passed on that. So, it's progressing slowly but surely! -Pete ----- "I tried to reply to your last newsletter and received it back as undeliverable. If you get this please add my name to the list of those interested in a Smurf video or DVD. I have about 13 VHS tapes of Smurf cartoons, but I know some are missing. Thank you. -Linda Briggs" --- Oops, I had my "reply" settings wrong when I sent the last issue couple of issues! If anyone is waiting on my for a reply from mail sent in reply to the last 2 newsletters, please resend it! If anyone wishes to go on the waiting list for music and/or cartoon tapes, please hit reply now and let me know. I am seeking original, licensed materials and offer it to these lists on a first-come, first-serve basis. I am not interested in black market, or home-made materials. I have learned that Warner Brothers currently holds the exploitation rights to the Smurf cartoon and theme song in the US, but they do not seem to be doing anything with it at this time. If anyone learns of legal, licensed media being produced, let me know and I will offer it for sale through www.MushroomVillage.com. -Pete ----- "I have a GREEN Smurfette. I don't mean green clothes, I mean her body is the ORIGINAL green color, not the later traditional blue. I am having trouble finding any information on this item. I am looking to sell her, she is in MINT condition, considering she was purchased almost 20 years ago. I also have a GREEN boy smurf holding a mug of frothy ale, he is not in good condition, but I am still interested in any info you may have on these apparently RARE items. Thanks. -Stevewarner73@xxxxx.com" --- Steve, it sounds like you have Gnomes by Empire. It is very common for these to be mistaken for Smurfs. They are not Smurfs, nor are they fake Smurfs. Gnomes were a separate toy marketed at approximately the same time in the US years ago in the 80's. They are not rare, nor are they very heavily collected. Sorry! -Pete ----- "One of my co-workers said that Smurfette isn't really a smurf. Was Smurfette made in Gargamel's laboratory in an effort for Gargamel to infiltrate the smurf commune? Tricia1271@xxxxx.com" --- Gargamel creates Smurfette as a pawn to destroy the Smurfs, and Papa Smurf changes her into a real Smurf to foil Gargamel's plan. The Smurflings (Smurfs who became young after getting caught in Father Time's backwards-running grandfather clock) made Sassette (a female Smurflings) from Gargamel's same recipe to create a companion for Smurfette. That's why Sassette calls Gargamel Pappy. But I digress, he. Yes, Smurfette is a real Smurf *now,* but she wasn't initially. The original nasty Smurfette with black hair was not a Smurf. But Smurfette as you know her with yellow hair *is* a real Smurf, because Papa's magic made her so. -Pete ----- "I was just reading your latest news letter and thing there are a couple of typos in the Suzanne's article. You state that Smurfs first came to USA in 1179 and that the rubber characters were first made in 1915 - is that correct? Patricia Putnam, NH" --- Whoops! I used an OCR ("Optical Character recognition") program to "read" the article into my computer for the Smurfy News, and I did not catch these errors. The Smurfs first came to the US in 1979, and Schleich first started manufacturing figurines in 1965. Thanks for pointing out the error, it has been corrected! -Pete ALERT! I award free Smurfs to people who find and report web site errors. I sent Patricia a free Smurf for catching this error because the error was also copied to our Article Archive at the site. Please report website errors (not newsletter errors) to receive your own free Smurf!! Use the "Contact Us" link a the bottom of any page, or hit reply now! =-=-=-=-=-= 4) LACONIA =-=-=-=-=-= In the last issue, a reader asked about Laconia: "Hello, I recall a specific episode called "Smurfing in Sign Language" with the deaf smurf named "Laconia." I remember when I was little, I wrote to Hanna-Barbara praising them for doing an episode with a deaf smurf since I am deaf myself. I received two 8X10 B&W photos of Laconia, which I still have. I am trying to see if there are any figurine of her available. Or any merchandise bearing her! Thanks! -Shadow" Several of our other readers wrote in with more information on Laconia: "I just received my first newsletter from you and I saw the letter from someone who wanted to know more about Laconia. Although I have no information about where to find merchandise of the character, I DO remember her. She was not a Smurf, but rather one of their forest friends. She reminded me of a character from the 80's cartoon "The Littlest." I don't know if that will help at all, but she was one of the characters I will always remember because it showed kids that everyone is different in their own special way and that being different is a beautiful thing. I wish I could remember exact moments from the episode, but it has been a while. -Jerry Fisher" "Just dropping a line of a quick synopsis of the episode entitled "smurfing in sign language." Someone named Shadow inquired about this episode because it dealt with a deaf smurf. It wasn't actually one of the smurfs that was deaf, but an elf by the name "Laconia," who the smurfs met in the woods. More bad news. Not only is Laconia not a smurf, but she could hear just fine! It was her voice box that was missing, not her hearing. I remember this episode clearly, and it is in the SCCI's (Smurf Collectors Club Intl.) cartoon episode guide on page 73. I hope this helps!! -Joe Thurber Cumberland, RI" "Hi Pete, this is in response to Shadow who had a question about Laconia, the deaf elf. Laconia was in two episodes, #130 "Smurfing in Sign Language," where she befriends Poet Smurf, and in #182 "Stop and Smurf the Roses," where Chlorhydris kidnaps Laconia and tries to kill her by destroying all the flowers. -Lisa" "Laconia was a mute wood elf who taught a magically soundless Poet the wonders of signing in #130 Smurfing In Sign Language during the 1983 - 1984 Season. It is one of my favorites since I like signing. -Linda Briggs, Lewiston, CA" "Smurfing In Sign Language" would be #130 in the Cartoon Episode Guide, which is listed in the 1983-84 season. he episode is about Poet trying to create a spring poem but was prevented from speaking by a spell cast upon him by Gargamel out in the forest. Realizing the difficulty that Poet was now facing, Papa Smurf set out and brought back Laconia the wood elf -- who in that episode where she was first introduced was originally scripted as mute, not deaf -- who proceeded to teach the Smurfs how to communicate in sign language, developing the sign for a Smurf in the process by placing her hands on top of her head in the formation of a cone, mimicking roughly the shape of a Smurf hat. Later on in the same episode, Laconia, Papa Smurf, and Poet were captured by Gargamel who then lost his voice by the same spell, but Papa Smurf used a reverse spell to give Poet and Gargamel back their voices and was going to give Laconia her own voice through the same spell but Laconia warned Papa Smurf of a sudden Azrael attack, which Papa Smurf avoided in time but in the process destroyed the spell that would have given her her own voice. At the episode's conclusion, Poet recited the spring poem in both his own voice and through sign language. Anyway, being that Laconia is more of a Hanna-Barberra scripted Smurf character and not one created by Peyo, it's highly unlikely that you would find a Laconia PVC figure anywhere. Sorry to say. Hope that helps, though. -Vic George, Westfield, MA" Thanks to all our Smurfy members who wrote in with help for Shadow! I am glad to find that Smurf Collectors continue to practice the SCCI credo "Sharing is Caring!" Here is the synopsis of these episodes, from the www.MushroomVillage.com cartoon episode guide: #130 "Smurfing In Sign Language" (1983-1984 season) Laconia the mute wood elf teaches a magically soundless Poet the wonders of signing. #182 "Stop And Smurf The Roses" (1984-1985 season) Chlorhydris abducts Laconia and tries to kill her by killing off all her flowers. Have you seen both of these episodes Shadow? The only merchandise I can think of that might feature Laconia are the Panini stickers from Italy. There are a series of stickers made from screen shots from the cartoon. I do not know if any of the Laconia cartoons were used. I have the full set, but it is in storage while I renovate my Smurf room. Does anyone know if this set features Laconia? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 5) 100TH INTL. TOY FAIR =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I will be attending the 100th Intl. Toy Fair in NYC February 16. I expect to meet with representatives from Schleich North America and Schleich Germany. As many of us know, Schleich has been resistant to answering "collector questions." However, in the past I have been able to corner them for a moment and pepper them with a few questions. Sooo.... any questions out there? If you have a question you'd like me to ask Schleich, hit reply now and let me know, or visit www.MushroomVillage.com and use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of any page to send it to me. I will try to get answers and report my findings in the next issue of the Smurfy News. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 6) INSIDER INFO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Here is one exchange I recently had with a Schleich rep regarding the increasing #'s of Smurf-a-Grams I see mounted on unprinted bases: "Hello. I have made my reservation for the 2003 Intl. Toy Fair in NYC. Hope to see you there! I had another question :) When Smurf-a-Grams (Smurfs on triangle stands) are made, is the message printed on the base before or after the Smurf is glued on? I have seen many Smurf-a-Grams with no message on them. This makes me think they are not "real" Smurf-a-Grams. Does Schleich makes Smurf-a-Grams with blank bases? Thank you :) -Peter" Schleich answers: "Please give me a day or two. I will need to investigate. From a logical and technical point it seems very unlikely that printing was done after the figurines has been glued to the socket. I will certainly find out. I am looking forward to seeing you in New York!" Pete: "Thank you, I appreciate your efforts a great deal. This question is of great interest to collectors who want to be sure they are adding only legitimate, licensed products to their collection. I await your answer with interest." Schleich: "I have received a reply from our technical department that has confirmed that the printing on the socket was done before the figurine was glued to the socket. Only those sockets that carry a figurine with an imprint would have no imprint on it. I am sure you are aware of the fact that Smurfs on a socket are no longer being manufactured. Schleich has stopped making these prior to 1986. I hope this helps." Pete: "I was wondering about the promotional Smurf-a-Grams recently produced by Schoenwald. They have been producing a line of Smurf-a-Grams with a sticker on the "socket" for several years. Some in very small quantities. So Schleich *has* produced these Smurf-a-Grams?" Schleich: "You have caught me! I was not aware of the fact that we have supplied the Schoenwald officials with the triangular socket separately from the Smurf figurines they have ordered. They have glued the figurines to the socket themselves. We have also supplied a few other customers in the promotional market with Smurfs on the triangular socket in the recent past." Pete: "Can you tell me, what is the minimum # of pieces one needs to order to have Schleich produce a promo Smurf?" Schleich: "The minimum quantity for such a promotional Smurf is 5,000 pieces plus costs for generating the model, model costs, tooling costs, etc. All promotional Smurf items have to be licensed by I.M.P.S. prior to us manufacturing them." Pete: "But the Schoenwald Smurf-a-Grams have been released in quantities far fewer than 5,000 pieces?" Schleich "The Schoenwald officials have purchased a total of 5,000 sockets at one time and are now only purchasing the Smurf figurines according to their needs. This was a special arrangement...I doubt very much that I.M.P.S. would agree to a similar deal again. Schoenwald has to be treated as a special deal because they are not trading with the product but use it to promote their tour offers." So there you have it! The sudden rash of blank Smurf-a-Grams being sold online are *not* official Schleich products! The Schleich factory has had problems with theft at the manufacturing plants. Things are being smuggled out to offer to the collectible market. Apparently, blank, unprinted sockets were smuggled from the factory, PVC's are being glued on, and offered as rare, unprinted Smurf-a-Grams. THESE ARE FAKES! As Schleich has said, the printing is done first, a figurine would not be glued to a blank socket prior to printing. www.MushroomVillage.com does not recommend that collector's buy these fabrications! As for Schoenwald Smurfs, we feel these may become especially sought out in the future. Since the standard minimum for a promotional piece is 5,000 units, the Schoenwald pieces are unusual for their limited quantities. We recommend that collectors take care to preserve the labels affixed on these pieces! With the rash of figurines being glued to blank, unprinted sockets, it is these stickers that make the Schoenwalds unique! If exposed to dry heat, they do fall off! The following is a list of Schoenwalds to date. Please note, the markings referenced are those on pieces we have seen, and may vary! Remember to collect marking variations when you find them! #1 20176 Good Luck Limited to 180 pieces. Released September, 1998 #'s 2 & 3 20452 Snowboarder & 20453 Snowboarder Smurfette Limited to 250 pieces each. The Snowboarders were released simultaneously in November, 1998 #4 20459 Nameplate Nameplate Smurf with Christopher Duffner's autograph in the frame. Christopher is a world champion ski jumper and a 1994 Olympic Games winner. Quantity Limited to 800 pieces. Released in April, 1999 #5 20455 Tourist Limited to 400 pieces. Released July, 1999 #6 20124 Santa Limited to 500 pieces. Released December, 1999 #7 20460 Golf Limited to 400 pieces. Released July, 2000 #8 20467 Chimney Sweep Limited to 400 pieces. Released December, 2000 #9 20118 Umbrella Limited to 500 pieces. Released July, 2001 #10 20469 Bouquet Limited to 500 pieces. Released February, 2002 The next pieces were dubbed "2nd Generation" by Schoenwald, they have a green tree on the sticker, it used to be white. #1 20482 Smurf with Tenorhorn Limited to 800 pieces. Released July 2002 #2 20040 Gift Limited to 800 pieces. Released December 2002 THANK YOU DIRK FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THESE FIGURES! (Yes, I know these add up to more than 500, time to ask more questions!) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 8) SMURFY NEWS GIVE-A-WAY =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Last month's contest was our most popular ever! I guess that's not surprising considering the prize: 20186 Baseball Smurfette!! "Wow! Thank you so much for offering this AWESOME RARE Smurf as a give-away! I have been looking for one that is still affordable for years, but I haven't had any luck until now. You really can't get more affordable than a chance to win it for free - Thank you so much for the give-away! I love your helpful attitude and TERRIFIC stuff, and it is WONDERFUL doing business with you anytime - Thanks and have a SAFE, JOYOUS and BLESSED Holiday Season!" "Pick me!!! Pick me!!! Since the Smurfs were officially born in 1957 and I was born that very same year, I would be the perfect candidate. My birthday is December 20, so it would be a wonderful birthday/Christmas present. Thanks in advance-just in case I win!" This Smurf is especially hard to find outside the U.S. and we received many International entries from all over the world including Wales, Canada, Germany, Australia, The Netherlands, England, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Malta, Spain, Italy and Switzerland! BUT A U.S. SMURFER WON IT!! Congratulations Katie Wade of Johnston, Iowa! You won last month's Give-a-Way! The highly sought after 20186 Baseball Smurfette! This month's Give-a-Way prize is a FREE 2003 Smurf set!! If the winner has already ordered a set from us, they will receive a refund with their set!! Enter by completing this secret entry form for Smurfy News subscribers ONLY!! http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-contest.html AOL Click Here THE WINNER WILL BE DRAWN AND ANNOUNCED IN NEXT MONTH'S SMURFY NEWS!! =-=-=-=-=-= 9) CLOSING =-=-=-=-=-= This brings another issue of the Smurfy News to a close. I am very glad to see we have over 200 new members since the last issue alone! Please do help us grow and forward this newsletter to someone else who may have remember the Smurfs :) Please help with my list of questions for Schleich at the 2003 Toy Fair - hit reply now if you have a question you'd like me to ask. As always, please keep in touch! I can only pass on what I learn, and my biggest source of information is the growing base of Smurf collectors that report to me - please keep it up! Until next time, Smurf on!! -Pete www.MushroomVillage.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= FORWARD, SEARCH, SUBSCRIBE =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= If you haven't already done so, please forward this issue to one or two of your friends or associates. Thank you so much! You may search for Smurfabilia in our database, the largest resource of it's kind on the Internet! Please visit our ID Guide page: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-idguide.html AOL Click Here! To subscribe, unsubscribe, or edit your profile, please visit www.MushroomVillage.com and enter you e-mail address in the Smurfy News subscription form, or use the link at the very bottom of this e-mail. =-=-=-=-=-=-=- 'SMALL PRINT' =-=-=-=-=-=-=- The "Smurfy News" is a FREE e-mail newsletter published for your enjoyment every month by your friends at www.MushroomVillage.com, joining or leaving the list is voluntary, we do not spam and we never sell, rent, share or distribute your contact information in any way! MushroomVillage.com carries the full range of current production Smurf products by Schleich as well as much of the retired line and other Smurabilia. If you enjoy this newsletter, please help support us with a purchase - Smurfs make great gifts! SHARING IS CARING!! Please submit information, news, articles, stories and anything Smurf-related to www.MushroomVillage.com - just hit reply now, or use the "Contact Us" link at the site. We collect and disseminate information the world over to keep Smurf collectors united and having a Smurfy good time! The Smurf character is a registered trademark of Studio Peyo - License I.M.P.S. MushroomVillage.com is a collector resource and retail Smurf shop only, it is not affiliated with I.M.P.S. or Peyo. For information on licensing the Smurfs name and/or character, contact I.M.P.S. at rue du Cerf 85, Genval 1332, Belgium The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of MushroomVillage.com. MushroomVillage.com makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the contents or information provided by the sponsors or by the writers. Use info contained herein at your own risk. (C) 2003 MushroomVillage.com All right reserved. Please do not reprint or host our materials on your website without explicit permission. 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