The Magic Librarities

MTG Phone Cards

Index | 1996 | 1997 | 1999 | 2002

It all started in November 1996 when MCI PrePaid advertised in the Duelist issue #14 (December 1996) three Magic rechargable prepaid phone cards to be sold by local retailers. One featured artwork of Serra Angel, one of Jester's Cap, and one of Dakkon Blackblade. All three had a capacity of 20 units. The cards could also be used to access DCI rankings and Arena ratings.

At the beginning of 1997, the sortiment was enhanced. Two new phone cards were made available. One had artwork of Balduvian Hordes and a capacity of 20 units, the other one had artwork of Black Lotus and a capacity of 30 units. The functionality of all cards was expanded to access tournament schedules, game information, and more. The phone cards could from then on also be ordered from MCI Prepaid directly.

In the middle of 1997, all phone cards were upgraded. They now had a capacity of 25 units, the Black Lotus phone card even received a capacity of 50 units.

After that, no more advertisements appeared, so the fate of these phone cards is unknown. It is possible that additional versions were introduced or the existing versions were altered again, before this product line was dropped.

Since the number of units was printed on the cards, completists will need two sets of these phone cards, one with the higher and one with the lower unit capacity.

It is currently unconfirmed that the phone cards were produced. The information is based upon advertisements.

Sponsorships
To cover the 1998 world championship event, Wizards of the Coast attracted a corporate sponsor: MCI
Telecommunications. According to a report in Brandweek:

Corporate tie-ins are mutually beneficial: the small start-up company is ‘legitimized’ by a renowned corporate
partner, through which it is able to gain access to a mainstream audience and acceptance, and, on the other
hand, the renowned corporate partner is searching for demographic synergies and “cool-by-association image
that come with linking to the Next Big Thing.”

MCI bets on those synergies when partnering with Wizards since it recognized the potential in courting
the core market of prepaid telephone cards: the college-aged crowd. In particular, MCI has agreed to
sponsor Wizard’s Magic US tournaments in exchange for exclusive worldwide rights to produce and
distribute Magic prepaid telephone cards featuring. The number 2 telecommunications company paid an
estimated $750,000 for the three year contract.

The MCI prepaid Magic telephone cards featuring original artwork of Magic cards, including such highly
desired cards like the ‘Black Lotus’ and other creatures of Dominia’s population. In addition, the MCI
Magic prepaid telephone card features a hotline where Magic players can receive up-to-the minute
tournament information, including tour dates, individual player rankings and game strategy. The MCI
prepaid Magic cards are themselves collected and traded.

MCI’s goal is it to establish a loyal clientele in the college-age crowd. Points out Seth Matlins, vice
president of corporate consulting at ProServ, the Arlington, Va., sports and event marketing agency that
brokered the deal: “First and foremost [there’s the] passion of Magic players. The Magic player wants
everything Magic and collects everything Magic. You’ve never seen core use loyalty like this. It’s
unrivaled across any other product or service category."

HOBBY JAPAN

In 1996, Hobby Japan produced a Phone Card of 50 call units with a MTG card back front. No further information is available at the moment.

DCI LEGENDS MEMBERS

It was mentioned in the DCI announcement papers that a commemorative 1997 World Championships Limited Edition prepaid phone card will be given to DCI Legend members (only for members who joined or renewed before September 1, 1997). This old info has been verified and no phone card was created or given

GOTTA COMICS

In December 1999, a serialized manga adaptation of The Brother's War began in Japan's Gotta Comic magazine as "Magic: The Legend". A Phone Card of 50 call units was produced with the illustration of Mishra and Urza on the front by ?.
It imagines Urza & Mishra as twins. In August 2000, it was cancelled after 8 chapters.

Release date: December 1, 2000
Artist: Ono Toshihiro
Author: ?
Label: Gotta Comics
Publisher: Shogakukan
Number of pages: 234
ISBN: 978-4091580412
Printed in Japan

Urza & Mishra Gotta Comics Manga based on the novel by Jeff Grubb. Front, middle and back. The cover depicts Urza, Ashnod and Mishra. December 2000.

MCI

In 2002, another series was produced and available mainly at Premier stores featuring illustrations of:
Krosan Beast (Odyssey) illustrated by Kev Walker - 30 minutes
Shivan Dragon (7th Edition) illustrated by Donato Giancola - 60 minutes
Sengir Vampire (Torment) illustrated by Kev Walker - 100 minutes
Silver Seraph (Judgment) illustrated by Matthew D. Wilson - 250 minutes

It is rumored also that a Squee, Goblin Nabob (Mercadian Masques) illustrated by David Monette phone card exists with a 200-minutes amount. Existence needs to be proven.

ERRORS, MISPRINTS AND TYPOS

2. Enter World Sevice Code instead of Enter World Service Code. Sévice means Punishment in French.

Legends membership-1995-2001 DCI document

ADVERTISEMENT

Magic Phone Cards advertisement in the Duelist issue #14 December 1996

Magic Phone Cards advertisement in the Duelist issue #15 (February 1997) and issue #18 (August 1997).

EXTERNAL LINKS - ALL FIXED

Magic Phone Cards; Magic Arcana Broken Link
Magic Phone Cards; Magic Arcana - June 23, 2003 - Wayback Machine

Magic Urza and Mishra Manga

INTERNAL LINKS

DCI Legend Membership Promos
Magic Phone Cards....How Many? Topic on the forum

1996 - MTG Phone Cards

	SET	NUM		CARDNAME	ARTIST	SOURCE	DATE	INFO
001				Dakkon Blackblade (Legends)	Richard Kane Ferguson	The Duelist issue #14 advertisement	1996-12	YES
002				Jester's Cap (Ice Age)	Dan Frazier	The Duelist issue #14 advertisement	1996-12	YES
003				Serra Angel (Alpha)	Douglas Shuler	The Duelist issue #14 advertisement	1996-12	YES
004				Hobby Japan		Source unknown	1996	YES

1997 - MTG Phone Cards

	SET	NUM		CARDNAME	ARTIST	SOURCE	DATE	INFO
001				Balduvian Horde (Alliances)	Brian Snōddy	The Duelist issue #15 advertisement	1997-02	YES
002				Black Lotus (Alpha)	Christopher Rush	The Duelist issue #15 advertisement	1997-02	YES
003				Dakkon Blackblade (Legends)	Richard Kane Ferguson	The Duelist issue #15 advertisement	1997-02	YES
004				Jester's Cap (Ice Age)	Dan Frazier	The Duelist issue #15 advertisement	1997-02	YES
005				Serra Angel (Alpha)	Douglas Shuler	The Duelist issue #15 advertisement	1997-02	YES
006				Balduvian Horde (Alliances)	Brian Snōddy	Source unknown	1997-?	YES
007				Black Lotus (Alpha)	Christopher Rush	Source unknown	1997-?	YES
008				Dakkon Blackblade (Legends)	Richard Kane Ferguson	Source unknown	1997-?	YES
009				Jester's Cap (Ice Age)	Dan Frazier	Source unknown	1997- ?	YES
010				Serra Angel (Alpha)	Douglas Shuler	Source unknown	1997- ?	YES

1999 - MTG Phone Cards

	SET	NUM		CARDNAME	ARTIST	SOURCE	DATE	INFO
001				Urza and Mishra	Toshihiro Ono	Source unknown	1999	YES

2002 - MTG Phone Cards

	SET	NUM		CARDNAME	ARTIST	SOURCE	DATE	INFO
001				Krosan Beast (Odyssey)	Kev Walker	MTG Premier stores	2002	YES
002				Shivan Dragon (7th Edition)	Donato Giancola	MTG Premier stores	2002	YES
003				Sengir Vampire (Torment)	Kev Walker	MTG Premier stores	2002	YES
004				Squee, Goblin Nabob (Mercadian Masques)	David Monette	Source unknown	2002	YES
005				Silver Seraph (Judgment)	Matthew D. Wilson	MTG Premier stores	2002	YES