Vintage Smurf – Plush 80cm

Description

Vintage plush Smurf measures a whopping 80cm or 31 inches in height.  Made from dralon or acrylic fibre plush which is written on the tag.  Made in Korea for BP Service Stations in Australia which is printed on the back of the tag.  The first photo has been brightened up so you can see detail.  The second photo is un-enhanced so you can see condition.  Smurf’s white areas have discoloured with playwear & dust over the decades, so he is not as white as he would have been when acquired from the BP service station. There’s also a vintage repair to Smurf’s left leg from knee to calf, where the seam had split.  It is 7cm in length and not really noticeable, but it is there, so worth a mention.  Due to Smurfs size I wonder whether he may have been part of the in store promotion, rather than sold?  Never the less he will made a great & giant addition to any Smurf collection.

A little bit of history taken from the website www.thecursedcountry.com – BP Australia History, where you can also find images of the original adverts & promotional posters.

From August 1979 to 1982, you could purchase plastic Schleich Smurfs from BP Service Stations for AU 89 cents each.  Smurfday was set to 9th September, 1979.  Ten Smurfs were sold when the campaign began.  They also gave them away in store promotions.  Many a Smurf was fixed to the car dash board after fueling up at BP.  In November 1979 Peter’s (Icecream) sold a blue & white ice lolly with the name Smurfee.  By Christmas 1980 there were 27 regular smurfs and 9 super smurfs, as well as three playsets.  BP let the Smurf license go just after January 1982.  Smurfs sold in Australia during this time were made in Hong Kong.