[DrunkSmurf]

It was probably as clear as daylight to you more experienced smurfers, but I inadvertantly bought my first fake (see picture). This was from fja13's free-for-all.

The heart-o-gram, while the correct shape, was smooth and was colored (on both sides) with magic marker. I've never seen the smurf up close, and thought that was how the back looked. Fja13 did a good job positioning his smurfs to hide the rubs (though I'd already detected a few here and there and expected them not to be in perfect shape).

How do you recommend I rate him? I guess a green, but with the comment "one smurf was a fake"? He's probably not worth getting into a rating war with.

I'm tempted to pry the heart-o-gram out with an x-acto, then at least I'll have the mate to Congratulations Smurf. What a way for him to wreck a good smurf!

[Tessa-Dennis]

Hi,

Very sorry to hear that you were tricked by a seller being not too open in the pictures. It is always when this happens.

I must say that I do not think this is a fake, that is if you mean that they deleted the words with the black marker. It more looks like someone didn't like the German or French writing on it and blacked it out, maybe if you have a more close up it is more obvious.

If you take out the heart this Smurf will not become the gratulations Smurf. Please have a look at the hands of the Smurfs in these photos:

Gratulations Smurf:


And the have a heart without the heart:


You see that there is a different in the hands. Where the gratulations is open and round in the back of the hands the have a heart is straight and flat.

Sorry I am bringing only more bad news

Dennis.

[attombomb7]

hi!

I feel bad that you got ripped off! its awkward I know to leave a rating

=

did they give you one yet?? if so then you can be a bit more honest in your rating..

the photos posted by Dennis are superb!! and very informative!

[Syd Smurf]

Great pics and explanation Dennis

I agree that this isn't a fake but the seller could of mentioned that it had the texta marks. As far as I know there has never been a fake of this Heart smurf....besides a possible repaint of course as that could happen to any smurf.

[DrunkSmurf]

But, so you really think the heart is legit? (not something he cut from plastic and rubbed a laundry marker over)? Is the normal heart-o-gram very smooth with a hand-painted red-heart? (not an engraved outline with machine painting?).

To the guy's credit, he charged me exact postage ($3.85) for a total of 11 smurfs. At the same time, all his posts describe the smurfs as "like new." I mean, I could tell by looking at the pictures they weren't "like new" (not to mention the white vinyl paint on some of the feet to hide fleamarket prices)--maybe that should have set me off.

On the brightside, except for a rub here or there, the smurfs looked decent--I mean, all were display-worthy--none were disgusting (except for the heart-o-gram!!!)

[Tessa-Dennis]

Hello again,

The original heart is very smooth and probably hand painted. There is no feel of lines etc. The material is not really plastic but more PVC like and it can be very slightly bent (a very tough rubbery stuff).

Personally I think this Smurf was in the hands of someone who preferred freedom fries over French fries a couple of years ago (you'll probably know what I mean ) and took care of his/her Smurf the same way.

Maybe this could be qualified as a variation based on a polical atmosphere Now they are bombing Smurfs on Television for the greater good nothing surprises me anymore

Dennis

[DrunkSmurf]

Thanks for everybody's help!

I think I figured it out. The ebay posting claims he bought it as a kid in Brooklyn. Maybe, as a young boy, he didn't care for having a smurf that said "I love you on it" and blacked it out.

Maybe my smurf archaeological techniques will allow me to remove the later markings.

In any event, I'm actually more satisfied that it is original (not fake). If it had been a fake, I would have had to remove the checkmark from my smurf checklist...

[Rachel]

Hi, glad to see that your fears were unfounded and that the smurf is in fact an original even though it has been marked. Maybe you will be able to remove the marker pen?

[Syd Smurf]

Personally I think this Smurf was in the hands of someone who preferred freedom fries over French fries a couple of years ago

Yes I remember that...so what you are saying is that he might of had a chip on his shoulder back then

[DrunkSmurf]

Personally I think this Smurf was in the hands of someone who preferred freedom fries over French fries a couple of years ago

Yes I remember that...so what you are saying is that he might of had a chip on his shoulder back then

That crazy cafeteria in Washington D.C. didn't have a grudge against the Germans. Though a whacked out historian renamed "Attila the Hun" to "Attila the Freedom".

[attombomb7]

[eggie smurf]

Hi Tim,
I have an extra heart smurf with the "Ein Herz Fur Kinder" heart if you'd like to trade or buy...I was going to list him on ebay but remembered your texta markered one I'll PM you!