Black & White Whisky by Nintendo

Published August 29, 2014 • Updated February 18, 2023

Whisky advertising playing cards manufactured by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co., 1960s.

These stylised and very colourful Japanese playing cards, advertising ‘Black & White’ Scotch whisky, were made in Japan by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co. Dodwell’s was a leading British merchant firm in China and Japan during the 19th and 20th centuries. The Dodwell & Co flag appears on the Joker. The ‘Black & White’ blended Scotch whisky brand’s motif, featuring a black Scottish Terrier and a white West Highland White Terrier, was conceived by James Buchanan during the 1890s. Nintendo sold playing cards in all sorts and sizes, from mini to oversized, and was the first in Japan to begin manufacturing plastic-coated cards. Nintendo was founded in 1889 and produced hand-crafted playing cards. Today it is better known as manufacturer of the Wii U console and Nintendo 3DS & 2DS systems.

Above: ‘Black & White’ Whisky advertising playing cards manufactured by Nintendo Playing Cards Co Ltd for Dodwell & Co., 1960s.

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By Rex Pitts (1940-2021)

United Kingdom • Member since January 30, 2009

Rex's main interest was in card games, because, he said, they were cheap and easy to get hold of in his early days of collecting. He is well known for his extensive knowledge of Pepys games and his book is on the bookshelves of many. His other interest was non-standard playing cards. He also had collections of sheet music, music CDs, models of London buses, London Transport timetables and maps and other objects that intrigued him.

Rex had a chequered career at school. He was expelled twice, on one occasion for smoking! Despite this he trained as a radio engineer and worked for the BBC in the World Service. Later he moved into sales and worked for a firm that made all kinds of packaging, a job he enjoyed until his retirement. He became an expert on boxes and would always investigate those that held his cards. He could always recognize a box made for Pepys, which were the same as those of Alf Cooke’s Universal Playing Card Company, who printed the card games. This interest changed into an ability to make and mend boxes, which he did with great dexterity. He loved this kind of handicraft work.

His dexterity of hand and eye soon led to his making card games of his own design. He spent hours and hours carefully cutting them out and colouring them by hand.