Smurf ToysThe Smurfs were actually created by a Belgian artist called Peyo in the late 1950s as part of an unrelated comic book, but they were so popular that he started a series about them soon afterward. By the mid 1960's, the first Smurf collectibles were being created in Germany and were given away with gasoline purchases to promote fuel companies. In fact, these days they are still being given away as promotional items in countries such as Belgium and Germany, where their popularity has never faded. The most popular of the Smurf toys by far was the collection of small, PVC figurines that were hand painted and depicted the characters from the show in great detail. These toys are still being made and sold overseas with more than 400 different figurines produced at last count. In fact, in the years since they were first introduced only two years, 1991 and 1998, have passed when no new Smurf toys were created. Each Smurf had a unique personality or a special job in the village, which is one of the things that made the Smurf toys so popular. There was not only the potential for hundreds of different Smurf figurines, but there was also the possibility of having a Smurf that fit the interests of every fan. To that end, there are carpenter Smurfs, rollerblading Smurfs, even Smurfs with traffic signs! The newest release of 2005 Smurf toys features many of the classic Smurf characters such as Papa, Smurfette, Grouchy, Brainy and all the rest, which are available for purchase online. That's not to say that the figurines are the only Smurf collectibles available...on the contrary, at the height of their popularity in America there were all kinds of fun Smurf toys on the market that inspire a wave of nostalgia in any Smurf fan today. Some prime examples include Shrinky Dinks, small pieces of plastic that could be colored and baked to create toys, and Colorforms, which were thin pieces of plastic that could be repositioned on a colorful background much like a coloring book. If you're looking to recapture a piece of your childhood or start a new collection these days, your best bet is to shop online at one of the many Smurf specialty stores. They have quite a variety of Smurf collectibles to suit every taste, from original metal lunch boxes to the rare unpainted toys that were used to test the molds for the figurines. It's going to be pretty hard to find Smurf toys in good condition anywhere else, as the pieces you find at garage sales and flea markets are often fairly well worn. The good news is that even in mint condition, Smurf toys are relatively inexpensive per piece much more so than other vintage collectibles of their type. Be careful when shopping for Smurf toys in online auctions, however. Some of the fakes are easy to spot, such as those with green or yellow skin, but others aren't as easy to see. Be sure you know what you're looking for before you bid, and only buy from sellers with good reputations and return policies. Many of the promotional Smurfs that are available can be easily altered to create a "rare special edition" Smurf figurine that never really existed, so make sure your toy is the real deal before you spend your hard earned money. Despite their declining popularity in the United States, the Smurfs are still very popular in Europe and there is a wide variety of Smurf toys for the kid in all of us who never grew up, or those that did and just still love the Smurfs! Check out the newest pieces on the market and see what's been going on in the last twenty years. You might be pleasantly surprised. |