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Harvey Ball, The Creator of "Smiley"
By Stephen Koschal
Ten years ago (2000) I took a survey in Times Square, New York City, of hundreds of people including locals, business persons and tourists from all over the world. My question was "Can you name three of the most recognized symbols/logos that come to mind?"
The three logos that were continuously mentioned were, in no order, are Coca Cola, the MacDonald’s Arches and Smiley face.
Just four months earlier, on December 31, 1999 at midnight I was watching the New year’s celebration on television and because of the time change, Australia’s celebration was the first that was televised. As the clock struck midnight in Sydney, 3.5 million dollars worth of fireworks were set off in the vicinity of the historic Harbor Bay Bridge. Suspended from the bridge was a huge Smile face that welcomed in the New Year. So, the first symbol I saw during the new millennium was the Smile face.
During the next several weeks I asked over three dozen autograph collectors if they knew who was the creator of "Smiley" face. Not a person knew, even one female collector had a Smiley face button on her handbag.
"Smiley" was created in December 1963. His dad/creator was Harvey Ball who was born in 1921. His art training was interrupted by WWII and in
1942 he served in the infantry. His wartime service included participation in the Pacific campaigns in Okinawa. Finishing his combat duty, he attended art school and later got a job with an advertising agency. After thirteen years he formed his own graphic art company. He also worked for an insurance company headquartered in New England. This company purchased a smaller company in Ohio and brought the paper work end of the Ohio company to the New England headquarters.
The communication between New England and Ohio became somewhat bitter.
During a meeting the vice president of the New England headquarters
said: "we’ve got to tighten up around here, there has to be a little more friendliness." The Vice President wanted to have an in house program starting with a few posters and she said "we’re going to get 100 buttons" and drew a circle on a piece of paper.
Harvey Ball with his artistic background, took the circle home and started to lay out the artwork. He started with a curve for a smile, not enough, he wanted it to appear to say something. He added two little eyes and that said it all…"Smiley" was born.
 Original hand drawn "Smiley" face by Harvey Ball
According to Ball: "I had a chance of making it perfect using a compass to draw the mouth but I thought I would give it a little freedom, be spontaneous, and drew it by hand."
Buttons were made and to be worn by the employees. Originally only 100 buttons were to be made but many others started to ask how they could get one. The company decided to produce them in lots of 10,000. The company’s name was printed on the back of the button but no one could see the publicity the company was trying to get from producing the buttons. During the next five years 100,000 buttons were produced.
"Smiley" was everywhere but the company didn’t feel they were getting full value from the production of the popular buttons.
Worse, it got to the point where some people latched on to the creation and the insurance company never protected it with a copyright. In 1971, they made inquiries about their rights with the United States Patent Office and was told "Tough Luck" it’s in the public domain. The insurance company was never able to do anything about it and "Smiley"
was now up for grabs.
Harvey Ball with his World Smile Day poster
Harvey told me "seems like everyone was trying to take credit they created the smile face. During the Fall of 1971, two guys from Philadelphia appeared on the United States television program ‘What’s My Line.’ These guys were producing "Smiley" on specialty items." Ball sent a letter to the network. Years later a segment on TV ‘American Journal’ Harvey Ball appeared on the show with two brothers from Spain.
The brothers publicly stated "yeah, Harvey Ball created "smiley" but we made the money." Another imposter from Seattle, Washington also claimed he created "smiley" but backed off and would not answer questions.
As "Smiley" seemed to take over the world it had to be decided whether "Smiley" was a boy or a girl. Harvey decided that "Smiley" would be a boy.
Smiley became an International sensation especially in Europe. Someone in Vienna, Austria wrote a book which included information about "Smiley." Two men from Germany flew to Worcester, Massachusetts to interview Ball.
Harvey Ball was in his early 40’s when he created "Smiley." He’s constantly asked: "Does it bother you that you never made money from the creation of Smiley?" His answer is that’s not totally true. I came very close to death one day when a motor shell exploded three and a half feet from me. Three soldiers to the left of me were killed and one to my right was injured, I was unharmed." "Money is not on my top list of priorities." Later Harvey Ball and I became friends and he told me he thinks I was the first to write him a check for his signature and to draw original "Smiley" faces on collectors items.
One of the checks Steve Koschal wrote to Harvey Ball
Proof the Signatures and drawings by Ball are genuine
On October 1, 1999 the "First Smile Day" was created by Harvey Ball.
Each year the first Friday in October will follow this tradition.
Eventually, Harvey Ball secured the rights to a "Smiley" face with his name hand signed in small cursive letters on the bottom. Ball sent me the following item to illustrate what he meant.
Harvey Ball made headlines across the United Stated when "Smiley" was
give the stamp of approval by the United States Postal Service. A
commemorative postal stamp featuring the "Smiley" face was to be
issued. The 33 cent stamp was to be produced. Through a public ballot
for the 1970’s series of stamps, "Smiley" face was the number one vote
getter receiving 470,000 votes. The stamp was issued in New York on
November 18, 1999.
People from all over the world view "Smiley’ face as a symbol of
happiness and friendship.
During the unveiling of the newly created stamp, hundreds of people
waved homemade "Smiley" faces and chanted Ball’s name. Choruses from
schools sang songs written about Ball including "The Ballad of Harvey
Ball." Harvey once told me: "The world sometimes seems big and full of
problems but my "Smiley" added that things could be made right by
simply smiling."
Harvey’s original "Smiley’ Face sketch is still sitting in a file
cabinet at the insurance company.
On my birthday April 16, 2000, I created two special limited editions
for Harvey Ball to not only autograph but to also draw an original
"Smiley" face. One of the editions was simply a limited edition card of
only 50 numbered copies. The other was a more colorful edition. A First
Day of issue of the "Smiley" face stamp. Only 25 of these covers were
used for this private signing by Harvey Ball. Each cover is hand
signed and Harvey drew an original "Smiley" face. The covers are
certified as genuine by me on the verso. See illustration below.
Limited edition First day Cover of "Smiley" stamp signed by Ball with original drawn "Smiley" face
Up to this point, no one was thinking of asking Harvey Ball for an
autograph. Not once have I seen his signature being offered in a
dealer’s catalog. Less than one year from signing these covers, Harvey
Ball passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2001. His signature in any
form can be considered "RARE."
The very rare cover illustrated above is number 11 of only 25 made.
This cover will be given away as a door prize during the next meeting
of the International Autograph Club to be held in Kesswil, Switzerland
on June 12, 2010. Everyone attending this fabulous event will have an
equal chance to win this treasure.
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