Menko Cards

Issuing Company: Country of Issue: Japan Year of Issue: 1930s through early 1960s Color/B&W: Color Number of Cards in Set: Card Size: Issued as insert with what product:

Notes: Menko cards were issued in Japan for many years, though the heyday for this type of cards was the 1930s through the 1950s and into the 1960s. It is usually very difficult to date the cards to an exact year. These cards were issued for athletes, film stars, other famous people, and other subjects. They are thick die-cut cards that are designed to be punched out. Menko cards of real people are usually cartoon drawings of the person depicted. Thousands of Menko cards have been issued.

These cards were usually issued in small groups with the same general back design. For the film star category, there were many cards issued for Mickey Mouse, Betty Boop, Popeye and other cartoon film stars, comedy film stars such as Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers, western film stars of the 1950s and early 1960s, and a lot of Tarzan cards. There were others issued as well, but those were the most prevalent subjects.

The Movie Card Website is not attempting to checklist these cards at this time, but merely showing pictures of some to introduce collectors to this type of card. Click the small picture above to see more pictures of Menko film star cards.

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