How can you tell Nagasakiya cards from Carddass cards?

Japanese Ocarina of Time cards come from two different sets that the market constantly merges, and telling them apart is the basic skill of this shelf. The Nagasakiya set is earlier, from late 1998, printed by Amada for a confectionery company and distributed with candy. The Carddass set is Bandai's, from 1999, sold through Carddass vending machines and in boxed sets.

The backs settle it fastest. A Nagasakiya back has a purple and silver diagonal plaid border, the card number at the top left, an inset image, a Zelda Item Guide panel, heart icons and a points value in a green rupee icon, with the Nagasakiya name at the bottom right. Carddass cards carry Bandai's own back design and branding instead.

The numbering settles it too. The Carddass set is a closed checklist of 42 cards. Nagasakiya numbering runs at least to No. 49, so any Ocarina card numbered 43 or higher cannot be Carddass, whatever a listing calls it.

The conflation reaches the top of the market: major auction houses have described Nagasakiya cards as Carddass in print. When the label and the card disagree, believe the card: maker, back design and number, in that order.