http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=635928
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I'm posting here in the hopes that you kind folks can assist me. I am unsure where to go or where to start with this one. I have a unique card that may be the only one of its kind!
I had been involved in Magic the Gathering since its inception, back in 1993. At the time cards did not have intrinsic collectability values anything like they do now.
When we would purchase booster packs and sort through them, discovering each new card for the first time, I had the displeasure of finding a cut and crimped Hypnotic Spectre in one of my packs. It was cut deep, splitting the text block in half so I could not read the complete effect the card had. As you can imagine, since this was early into the Alpha craze, I was more interested in playing the card than anything.
Being a resident hanger-about at my friend’s FLGS at the time, I happened to be there later that day when another customer bought and opened more booster packs from the same box. Lo and behold, the second half of the same card was in one of his packs, also crimped, of course. It hadn’t even occurred to me until I saw it that it was even a possibility. It appears these booster packs were cut and crimped consecutively and so the card was partly in each of two packs along the packing process.
I managed to buy the other customer’s smaller half for a dollar, wanting to have the whole card as a novelty. I placed it into a snap-tight hard plastic card holder to keep them together.
Until a few months ago, I had forgotten I even had it. I rediscovered it tucked into a pocket of an old gaming briefcase. When I mentioned it to a friend of mine, who is still an avid Magic player, he was quite impressed, telling me it could be worth a great deal of money. He said he had never seen anything like it and it was probably wholly unique. Especially in that it was a mint condition alpha Hypnotic Spectre to boot.
Below is a color scan of the card for your reference.
Unfortunately, I have not been involved in Magic for years, so I am unfamiliar with the current trading atmosphere and market.
I have been given widely ranging information from multiple retailers and individuals as to the possible value of this card. I've heard a magic card once sold for $2000 and that certain mint alpha cards could potentially be worth upwards of $15,000. Is this true? This would have to be a Black Lotus they were speaking of, correct? I can’t imagine such a price for a card, but I’m not going to complain if this card should happen to fall into a similar category.
I would really appreciate any input you may have as to how I can go about appraising such a thing and possibly finding a potential buyer. Since I am no longer a frequent card game player, having moved on to RPGs and such, I might be willing to sell it to someone who would better appreciate it or display it in a collection worthy of its exceptionality.
Due to its utter distinctiveness and potential value, I am leery of taking some of the offers I’ve been given thus far and would like an expert opinion, or three.
Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you all in advance for your time.
Sincerely,
ChrisCarlson
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