1953 Academy Award it is. "NN" works for me. Nice snag Kathy!
Geoff, I have one of these clamshells as well. I'm under the impression (don't remember why) that this was the transition case for the earliest AA models and produced (for AA models) prior to rights being approved to use the Oscar image and AA handle.. Goddess instead of Oscar and non-AA text on inside of lid with the curtain design inside and out. I have only seen 2 of these, mine and this one.
There is now the possibility this is the last of the AA boxes, modified after the AA rights were rescinded? A new mystery.....After mulling it over, I have to believe this is a correct box for a 1953 "Don't call it Academy Award". It makes the most sense of the 2 scenarios.
But then again, maybe they were used early and late in the AA line.....I'm getting an OCD headache.