Back to Country
Advertising playing cards for a Japanese fashion house, with reversed colours.
There are two striking features about this pack. The first is the size – the cards are elongated, although Nintendo made cards in this format on a number of occasions. The second is that all the indices and suit-signs are left in white – on a red background for the red suits, and a black background for the black suits. The central motif on all the court cards and Jokers is a keyhole, Drawings of various personalities can be spied through the keyhole, e.g., Lincoln, J.F. Kennedy, Chairman Mao, Frank Sinatra, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, and Frankenstein. The back design features the door of the “Country Club” in brown. See the box►
Above: Back to Country playing cards made by Nintendo P.C. Co. Ltd, Kyoto, Japan, c1979, for Van Jacket Inc. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in cardboard sleeve. Size: 63 x 107.5 mm.
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Back to Country
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
ViVa Bourg
A distinctive deck of cards for a specific promotion.
Sumo Wrestling
Traditional Japanese Sumo Wrestling playing cards with photograph of different wrestler on each card...
Dancing
“Dancing” playing cards manufactured by Nintendo for Torii Dance School, Osaka.
Kyoto Souvenir Deck
Kyoto Souvenir playing cards by Nintendo aimed at the up and coming tourist industry, 1950s.
Seiko fashion cards
Men's and ladies fashion playing cards published for the Seiko Corporation by Nintendo, Japan, 1971....
Nippon Beer
Nippon Beer brewery playing cards published by Nintendo, Japan, 1960s.
Glico Almond Chocolate
Glico Almond Chocolate playing cards with designs by Izumi Tamai, produced by Nintendo, Japan.
Loco Jumbo playing cards
54 different colour photographs of steam locomotives from around the world.
Kawasaki Trump
Humorous publicity pack for Kawasaki featuring some of their many products.
Maxim playing cards
Publicity pack from Nintendo for Maxim freeze dried coffee.
Crazyrider playing cards
Stylised portrayal of rock musicians from the 1980s.
Unimol playing cards
Advertising pack for a pharmaceutical company, with brightly coloured courts.
Laser Clay playing cards
Pack promoting the Laser Clay Shooting System created by Nintendo in 1973.
Onward playing cards
Advertising pack for Japanese fashion and lifestyle business featuring different national and region...
Fujitsu playing cards
Colourful advertising pack for Fujitsu Limited, reminiscent of the flower power/psychedelic era.
Ainu culture
A terrific deck of cards made by Nintendo c.1979 with original designs on every card showing the Ain...
Black & White Whisky by Nintendo
Whisky advertising playing cards manufactured by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co., 19...
Akadama Honey Wine by Nintendo
Suntory Akadama Honey Wine playing cards manufactured by Nintendo, Japan, c.1970.
Kabufuda
Kabufuda playing cards manufactured by Nintendo, Japan
Hanafuda Flower Cards
Japanese Flower Cards (Hanafuda) made by Nintendo, Japan, 2008.
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
Ваня Козлов (Vanya Kozlov)
19 November 2025, 09:47SavedSaved this article to Ваня Козлов's Collection