Nintendo "Ethiopian Air Lines" Playing Cards, Melles Habtezghi Designs, c.1969

Mint, sealed deck of wonderful cards, made by Nintendo c.1969 for Ethiopian Air Lines, featuring the original designs of Melles Habtezghi, with English and Ethiopian indices. According to Fournier, the figures on the higher value cards depict indigenous peoples in their native costumes, while the backs are "printed with primitive musical instruments and a central multicolour circle on a black background framed by a geometric pattern." The first two photos of this listing show the deck here for sale. The remaining pictures of the faces are from an open deck. Please note that the deck here for sale does not have a box.

The deck has 52 cards, plus 2 Jokers. The cards are bridge size, measuring 89mm x 59mm. There is no box.

The cards are mint and sealed.

Reference: Fournier, Playing Cards II, Japan 47

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