Welcome Smurfies! Lost info has been recovered that finally identifies, defines and formally recognizes one of the most misunderstood, and possibly rarest Smurf sets in existence - the 1989 "Raw S.C.C.I. Promotional Figurine Set".  It is a special set of “9” different Raw Smurfs formally released by Schleich to the Smurfs Collectors Club International (SCCI) to commemorate their 4th year.  

What makes this set so rare and why hasn't it heretofore, been formally recognized as an official SCCI Smurf set? Because specific details regarding the composition of this set were never published by the SCCI (or anyone) and are hence unknown. What little info that is known, is either incomplete or erroneous. Until now! This article gives the reader a thorough understanding of this set's myriad history from inception to ultimate release, to finally, the formal recognition it deserves. 

This information was gleaned from a series of 208 letters written between SCCI Founder & President Suzanne Lipschitz and "Dr Smurf" (author of the "Solid Color Smurfs" article, Newsletter 14) between 5/86- 5/90. 

The story begins in the Fall of 1986. Dr Smurf, an avid collector, was perusing his newest Smurf acquisitions and came across some "solid color" Smurfs. One was the Green Pirate Smurf pictured above. Another was a solid colored Biscuit Smurf. What were these odd Smurfs he wondered? Were they real? Were they fake? He turned to the De Facto expert on Smurfs at the time - SCCI president Suzanne Lipschitz. She had identified Smurfs before, surely she would know.

Dr Smurf's inquiry into "Solid Color" Smurfs set in motion a 3 year investigation and letter writing campaign (pre internet) between Suzanne & Schleich to identify these unusual Smurfs (Newsletter 14). As all Smurfies know, the investigation ended successfully when Biscuit Smurf was identified as one of the Waldbaur candy "Promotional" Smurfs , the Pirate - a knockoff (Newsletter 14). What most don't know is that this inquiry and subsequent investigation was the impetus that led directly to the "naming" and ultimate release of the elusive "Raw S.C.C.I. Promotional Figurine Set". 

During her investigation, Suzanne discovered information about different production techniques & molds used to make Smurfs. (ltr 156,166,167,169,172,190) This led her to make an important distinction between Solid or Injected Colors and RAW or unpainted Smurfs (ltr 156,190). Ltr 156 & 190 are KEY letters, they show this distinction being made and ultimately used to name this set - "Raw S.C.C.I. Promotional Figurine Set". These letters also verify the fact that the set is made up of "9" different RAW Smurfs.   

One can easily infer that this 3 year "Solid Color" investigation & letter writing campaign by Suzanne was the impetus that led Schleich to formally release "RAW" Smurfs to the SCCI club. This decision was unusual as Schleich did not release RAW unpainted Smurfs direct from the factory unless it was for a specific promotion (ltr 169,190). It did not come easily either - Newsletter #12 states - After lengthy negotiations, Schleich agreed to release RAW Smurfs to the SCCI under the condition that they be treated as special "Club Promotional Figurines”. (Interesting to note that they were also being retired due to decreased demand in Europe at the time (ltr 181b).)

So, after an extensive 3 year investigation into RAW Smurfs, and the conditional release of "Promotional" figurines by Schleich, why wasn't the number, type and color of the Smurfs comprising the makeup of this set ever published? I would think that would be an exciting, key detail in promoting the set for sale and also for historical posterity. By examining the sales process, SCCI newsletters and Dr Smurf's personal correspondence we can definitively confirm why, as well as positively reveal the sets exact composition. 

The sale of this set was a Fundraiser for the SCCI club. (ltr 195) Hence, the focus was on maximizing profits, not on promoting a newly released set of Smurfs. Many different strategies were used in this attempt and as we will see, these changing marketing strategies and sales announcements directly caused the confusion & misunderstanding surrounding this set (newsletter 16). 

The initial sale of these figures was announced in SCCI Newsletter #12, Spring 1989. They were marketed and sold as “RAW S.C.C.I. PROMOTIONAL FIGURINE SETS”.   They were offered for sale in "groups" (sets) of "3" to 4th year renewing members only and were limited to one group of 3 per member. Each grouping came with A "Numbered Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The certificate reads "Your 3 RAW Smurfs constitute one set in a series of 170". (ltr 180,183a). It does not list the Smurfs included. It also implies that there were 170 sets of 3 RAW Smurfs available for this promotion. As we will see, this promotion was NOT limited to 170 sets of 3! The fact that neither the initial announcement nor the accompanying COA stated which Smurfs were included or how many different ones were available, caused "tons of mail and questions" (ltr 172, news 16). Club members were confused. They wanted answers. They wanted the complete set.

***Letter 181b is the 2nd KEY letter. It explains what Suzanne did in response to this deluge. It is also the 3rd time Suzanne states that the set was composed of "9" different pieces. To appease members who wanted a 2nd grouping, and since the 2 week renewal period had passed, she opened sales to NEW members with a new application. This created somewhat of a dilemma because you can't advertise "170 Certified, Limited Edition, numbered" sets and then simply certify more sets.  To solve the problem, she designated the 2nd groupings as series #2, and by default the 1st group series 1. She also issued a Letter of Authenticity instead of a COA. The attached receipt & LOA (183, 183B) shows series 2 for the 2nd application.

Even with this 2nd grouping collectors still only had 6 of the 9 Raw Smurfs. Ltr 181 explains how she responded to members who wanted (and knew about) all 9 - "Aside from the 2 sets we have some 'extra' Raw Smurfs (not included in series 1 or 2) these came in improperly and we could not make up sets with them. They can be purchased without a subscription/membership and are only being offered to collectors like yourself (Avid)".

This info was also repeated in Newsletter #16 and in a Club limited edition letter -"

   "We have a small number of Leftover Raw figures that were in too short supply to make into sets". "These figures are not part of the limited edition sets and although raw and very special will not be accompanied by a "club limited edition letter" (club letter)  

      "As these figures came to the club in odd quantities we do have a few 'extra' figurines available that were not included in the Limited edition sets". If anyone is interested in purchasing a RAW FIGURINE please send your request to the club".  (newsletter 16)

These last 3 Smurfs - White Ice Lolly, White Smurfette Stewardess, Blue Cowboy, are keys to understanding the nature of this promotional set. Their rarity and importance were obfuscated by these inaccurate descriptions. They were not "extra's" or "leftovers", they were less common, or RARER than the others. That's why they weren't grouped with the 1st or 2nd series, there wasn't enough of them. They were also sold without a COA or an LOA, just a receipt. 183B shows a receipt for these last 3 Smurfs.

It's easy to see how the changing terms and conditions of the sale caused the confusion surrounding the composition of this set. This is borne out by the fact that Suzanne felt the need to publish an "explanation" of the sale in Newsletter #16, spring 1990. (one year later) Unfortunately, this explanation was again, more of an attempt to sell the remaining Smurfs rather than ascertain the sets composition. This is the 3rd time the Smurfs were formally offered for sale. All unsold Smurfs were regrouped into 4 new groups of 3 and assigned new series #'s 1-4.  They were no longer advertised as "certified".  Although all 9 Smurfs appear in the 4 new groups it is still not clearly delineated that these "9" make up the entire set.  In fact they are again referred to as "extra" Smurfs. The Newsletter ends by stating "If anyone is interested in purchasing a RAW figurine please send your request to the Club...".  At that point they were basically sold to order. 

 WOW! That's a LOT! To summarize, these Smurfs were formally offered for sale 3x, sold privately upon request and grouped in 3's at least 6 different ways. They were called sets, groups, extras, leftovers, limited edition, and extra special.  Some came with a Certificate of Authenticity, some with a Letter of Authenticity, some with a receipt and some with a combination of the above. No wonder there is so much confusion surrounding this set and no one knows exactly what constitutes a complete set. 

I hope I have cleared the air. The complete set of 1989 "Raw S.C.C.I. Promotional Figurine Set" includes "9" different RAW Smurfs, in 4 different colors and accompanied by varying certificates of authenticity! (ex 156,181,190) Although there are most certainly other "Raw" Smurfs that escaped the factory unpainted, for whatever reason, this is the only officially sanctioned set of "RAW" Smurfs released by Schleich. They should be recognized as such and take their rightful place in SCCI Smurf Lore.

Without further ado, here they are: The complete set of 9 RAW SCCI Promotional Smurfs Figurines.  

1 20205 White Baby with Teddy                3 40217 Blue Photographer      5 20153 White Santa Smurfette       7 20122 Blue Cowboy         9. 2022 White Smurfette Stewardess

2 20176 Green Good Luck                            4 20001 Red Papa                           6 40216 Blue Fireman                          8 20053 White Ice Lolly

Is this the rarest Smurf set ever? I have never seen another one!

ATTACHMENTS

Newsletters

Note: I am trying to ascertain how many of each RAW Smurfs the SCCI received for this promotion. If anyone has the  club letter offering the 3 rarer Smurfs for sale and/or copies of COA/LOA's, or other pertinent info please forward. If I can collect enough info maybe Brainy Smurf can extrapolate how many RAW Smurfs were involved in this promotion. The attached certificate for series 1 is numbered #26, the 2nd series is #108. 

Gold Pig Smurfs.

Smurf-Berry Crunch & Smurf Magic Berries