M542

1954 Basho 7 Set

M542-1, Type 1: Gold Ink on Front, Tan Paper Stock, Blue Ink on Back

M542-2, Type 2: Gold Ink on Front, Grey Paper Stock, Brown/Purple Ink on Back

M542-3, Type 3: Gold Ink on Front, Tan Paper Stock, Brown/Purple Ink on Back

M542-4, Type 4: No Gold Ink on Front, Dark Ink on Back, Solid Shikona Box

M542-5, Type 5: No Gold Ink on Front, Brown Ink on Back, Solid Shikona Box

M542-6, Type 6: No Gold Ink on Front, Dark Ink on Back, Opaque Shikona Box

M542-7, Type 7: No Gold Ink on Front, Brown ink on Back, Opaque Shikona Box

    Description:  This set is from very late 1954 to early 1955.  This ranks as one of my top 5 sets because of the quality of artwork, the quality of printing and the fact that there also exists a gold inked version of each menko as well.  This set has one of Tochinishiki's first Yokozuna menko.  This is a difficult, but fun set to collect because of the variety of versions that exist.  Backs come in brown, grey, blue, red-brown, as well as filled-in and unfilled boxes that contain the shikona.  This set is absolutely gorgeous!

    Company: Unknown                                           Availability: Scarce

    Card Size: 1.25" X 2.75"                                     Card Material: Thick, Paper stock

     # of Cards: 21+                                                  Packaging: Box

   Key Cards:  Any Yokozuna

   Winner Stamp Description:  Unknown

   Front Design:  Rikishi are drawn in various poses.  Gold ink is used instead of white ink on the Gold versions.  Shikona is typically vertical, except for Wakanohana's where it is horizontal. 

   Back Design:  The rikishi's shikona appears in the middle of the back.  Rank is in the upper right corner and a Gu-Choki-Pa Mark is in the upper left.  A 7 digit Fighting Number is along the left and a war themed word is along the right side.  A different picture depicting various objects related to sumo are along the bottom.