Ultra Rare "Deluxe" Mario Menko
In all the years I've been collecting Mario Menkos, I've never ran into any of these. To be honest, I didn't even know they existed. In 1985 Amada made what they called "Deluxe" Menkos. I believe they were limited edition only to the 1985 Super Mario Bros. Menko set. They were sold in candy shops in Japan only one card at a time. It was like a lottery. The buyer could not choose the scene of the Menko, so you didn't know which one you were going to get.
Amada didn't produce these in large quantities, so these are far more rare than a standard Menko. The amazing thing is the Deluxe Menkos measure 7 inches wide and 10 inches tall. The back of the Deluxe Menko, in my opinion, is just as interesting as the front. The art, colors and size of these Menkos really make them stand out.
I was lucky enough to acquire one of these from a dealer in Japan. I also found a picture of one he already sold. Below are pics of the one I bought and the one I missed out on.
