CRANSTON, R.I. – Magic: The Gathering (MTG) trading cards dominated the list of top lots in Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Winter Comic, TCG (Trading Card Games) & Toy auction held February 26. The top five offerings – all MTG cards from 1993 – combined to bring a total of $123,750.

Earning its place in the winner’s circle was a Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus card, graded CGC 9 Mint, a Holy Grail item for MTG collectors. It sold within estimate for $45,000. The card is revered as the most powerful of the Power Nine and is idolized for its fast mana acceleration during play. It’s also famous for the elegant artwork by Christopher Rush.

All the CGC-graded MTG cards in the auction were from an original-owner Virginia collection. The runner-up card was a Magic: The Gathering Alpha Ancestral Recall card, graded CGC 9.5 Gem Mint, which achieved $38,750. Like the Beta Black Lotus, it’s another MTG Holy Grail card.

Next in line was a Magic: The Gathering Alpha Timetwister trading card, graded BGS 8.5 NM-MT+. It bested its high estimate by finishing at $16,250. When played with the other cards of the Power Nine, Timetwister becomes a powerful tool.

In fourth place was a Magic: The Gathering Beta Mox Sapphire trading card, graded CGC 9.5 Gem Mint, which sold within estimate for $14,375. The Mox gem artifact cards are an incredibly powerful set, rightfully earning their place in the Power Nine. This Mox Sapphire, a CGC 9.5 Beta print example, was one of the finest ones on the open market.

Rounding out the top five was a Magic: The Gathering Beta Volcanic Island trading card, graded CGC 7 Near Mint. Volcanic Island is iconic in MTG lore, not only for being a dual land but exclusive to the Beta printing. The example in the auction sailed past its $5,000 high estimate to change hands for $9,375.

One lot consisting of eight factory-sealed 1999 Pokemon Base Unlimited Booster Pack cards in three-pack clamshells, for a total of 24 packs with eight of each pack artwork, realized $8,438. Some clamshells were yellowed from aging and sun exposure but in otherwise good condition. These are a unique piece of Pokemon TCG history and would have been sold in a department store.

A copy of Detective Comics #359, published by DC Comics in January 1967, carrying a CGC grade of 8.0 and featuring the origin and first appearance of Batgirl, plus an appearance by Killer Moth, climbed to $4,000. Also, a group of 107 Marvel Comics Spider-Man comic books, #21-#150, in conditions ranging from 4.0 to 7.0, went to a determined bidder for $3,875.

Magic: The Gathering (known as Magic or MTG) is a tabletop and digital collectible card game created by Richard Garfield and released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast, which is now a subsidiary of Hasbro. Magic was the first trading card game and had approximately 35 million players as of December 2018. More than 20 billion Magic cards were produced in the period from 2008 to 2016.

New MTG cards are released on a regular basis through expansion sets. A worldwide community of professional Magic players has developed, as has a substantial resale market for Magic cards. Certain cards can be valuable due to their rarity in production and utility in gameplay, with card prices ranging from a few cents to tens of thousands of dollars.

Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single piece or an entire collection, email info@bruneauandco.com or phone 401-533-9980.

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