Following the "Goldfinger" huge box-office success, the Bondanza was unstoppable. Every company wanted a tie-in with the famous British agent James Bond aka double ooh seven. So after the fabulous “Missione Goldfinger” trading card sets, The Italian based company “Elah” received a licence from EON Productions to produce a new trading card set for "Operazione Tuono" aka “Thunderball”. The "Operazione Tuono" card set was announced on the back cover of the "Missione Goldfinger" collectors album (see picture below). The wrappers had an identical design. Cards, collectors album and wrappers are extremely hard to find, even on eBay where you can find almost everything. Speaking for myself, I never saw a collectors album. A sample is shown here below on the right hand.
"Advertising the trading cards on the back cover
of the "Missione Goldfinger" collectors album"
"Operazione Tuono" album.
There are 83 full colour cards to collect, as far as I know there are no reprints. The card cutting is much better than their previous card set but still not as good as it should be. The white borders are a disaster. Most of the cards are printed in landscape except for card N°73. I don't know the exact date that the cards were issued because there is no date on the cards. Probably 1965 or 1966, but that's just a presumption. The card sequence follows the movie line al the way from card N°3 until card N°83. The first two cards depicting the leading ladies and Mr. Largo. On the card reverse a short story was printed in red ink. Enjoy the cards.
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