Monday, October 11, 2021

"Introduction" Ultimate Exhibit 1994 Invitation ticket card

 

The Ultimate Exhibit '94 Invitation card


At the release of Carddass part 19, Bandai accepted invitation requests to attend a new event called the "Jump Character Carddass Ultimate Exhibit", abbreviated to Ultimate Exhibit (究極博 in Japanese). The English subtitle read: "Super Museum", which in my opinion is not an accurate translation and does not do justice to the original Japanese title. Those selected (7500 individuals) were sent an invitation card (pictured above). 

This was to be used as a ticket to access the upcoming event later that year in 1994. The event was carried out in 5 locations across Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo. The event lasted 5 days, starting from the 9th of October, which was a Sunday, lasting till Friday.

The event had much to offer, attendees would be able to acquire the new part 20 reversible prisms with a unique prism pattern exclusive to the event. Play card games to earn points that would allow one to pick rewards, of which the mighty Over 1 Billion Carddass Commemoration prisms was a part of. It was also possible to buy full sets of all Carddass up till part 20, as well as Super Battle up till part 10, among other wonderful items.


Back an unstamped Ultimate Exhibit '94 Invitation card


The back featured a special backing stating the rules: 

- 1 card allows one person to attend 1 single time. 

- Please be sure to bring this card with you.

- For inquiries (followed by phone number)


When this ticket was brought to the admission counter of the Ultimate Exhibit event, it was stamped with a visitor number (such as "0108" for example). Since there were 5 locations across Japan, most earlier numbers would exist on up to 5 cards around the country. 

There also exists unstamped versions of the card such as the one pictured here. According to various sites out of the 7500 invitations sent, only 5207 people attended across all 5 locations. This resulted in 2293 cards being unused. As a result the unstamped cards are a bit rarer than the stamped variety.

I've been informed that there was also a similar Ultimate Exhibit carried out in Hong Kong, and that this card also given out to participants there. I don't know the exact date of the event or how many were printed for it is. I assume the card is otherwise identical. Thank you to Barry Ho for that supplemental information!

This is a card full of history. Not only for being associated with the historic first Ultimate Exhibit, but also because it is only one of two non reversible non double prism Carddass cards to have been made featuring this card type prism (or hard prism). This style was typically much more commonly used by rival Amada.

The card is one of the rare Carddass prism cards showing Son Goku using the Nyoibou. Such a colorful illustration, and with Shenron in the background! What a splendid card!

 

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