Chandelier No. 55 (Nintendo)

Japan was occupied and administered by the victorious Allies of World War II from the surrender of the Empire of Japan on 2 September 1945 at the end of the war until the Treaty of San Francisco took effect on 28 April 1952. Given the legend (“MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN”) on the tuck flap of the box for this pack, these cards must date from that period. The familiar “n” logo for Nintendo appears on the Ace of Spades although the tuck box is inscribed “THE STANDARD PLAYING CARD CO.” along one edge. The card quality is poor and the colour of the card is off-white, no doubt because of post-war restrictions or shortages. One card – the Jack of Spades – has been miscut. The numeral cards are plain. Three Brownies are featured on the Joker. These characters (made popular by the Canadian illustrator and author Palmer Cox) had previously appeared on the Joker in at least two packs by the National Card Co. of Indianapolis and New York. Why this design was used again fifty years later in Japan remains something of a mystery. See the box►

Above: Chandelier No. 55 playing cards made by The Standard Playing Card Co. (Nintendo), Japan, c1950. 52 cards + 1 Joker + 1 bridge score card/extra Joker in tuck box. Size: 60.5 x 87 mm.

• National Playing Card Company: Full House Poker No.555►