Unique Cards

Index | 1996 World Champion | Shichifukujin Dragon 1996


Two cards will forever frustrate Magic card collectors, as there is only one of each in existence.

The 1996 World Champion was given to Tom Chanpheng of Australia for winning the 1996 World Championship. The card is encased in lucite, apparently floating above a silver globe. In 2001 it was sold to a private collector for $17,500. One sheet of this card was printed, but all other copies were destroyed as well as the printing plates. At the event, there was a video showing the destruction of every other copy of the card on the one sheet that was printed. The card was embedded in Chanpheng's winning trophy.

The Original art was painted with acrylic on illustration board. The champion, with his jacket were added in digitally after and never included in the original painting.
Measurements are approximately: 13"x 11" (33cm x 28cm).


1996 WORLD CHAMPION


ART


Original Sketch 1996 World Champion by Christopher Rush.




1996 World Champion Original Art signed by Christopher Rush on the back.


ARTICLE



Article page 17 of The Duelist #13 (October 1996).


PRINTING APPROVAL


Carta Mundi Printing approval of the 1996 World Champion Card.


PRINT


1996 World Champion Limited Print signed by Christopher Rush.


1996 World Champion Limited Print signed by Christopher Rush close up.


1996 World Champion Limited Print by Christopher Rush.


TROPHY

1996 World Champion Trophy Front and Back. Measurements are:
*Total Height = 25.2 Centimeters = 9.92 Inches
*Height till the Lead Angle = 17.5 Centimiters = 6.88 Inches
*Width = 8.5 Centimeters = 3.34 Inches
*Depth = 10.1 Centimeters = 3.97 Inches


1996 World Champion Trophy front and back.


1996 World Champion Trophy front and back from the sides.


1996 World Champion Trophy front.


SHICHIFUKUJIN DRAGON

The Shichifukujin Dragon was created to celebrate the opening of the Japan DCI Tournament Center in Tokyo, Japan. All copies except for one were destroyed. The remaining Shichifukujin Dragon has been encased at the Tournament Center for public view together with the original artwork of the card. The Tournament Center was closed on February, the 28th in 2003, and the card was moved to the Hobby Japan Head Office where it currently resides. Shichifukujin is the name of the Seven Deities of Good Fortune of Japanese mythology.

Ask Wizards - December 15, 2003
Q: "I was reading a list of Magic promo cards listed on another website, and found one named 'Shichifukujin Dragon.' I collect dragon cards, so I want to know if this card is real. If so where can I find a picture of it?"
--Jamie, Jacksonville, FL

A: From Ron Foster, Japan Organized Play Manager:
"The Shichifukujin Dragon card is indeed real. It was created as a special commemorative card for the opening of the DCI Japan Tournament Center several years ago, in 1996. The card was based on a Japanese legendary lucky dragon, and Christopher Rush was commissioned to do the art. The card text reads:

Shichifukujin Dragon
6 Red Mana Red Mana Red Mana
Summon Dragon (0/0)
When Shichifukujin Dragon comes into play, put seven +1/+1 counters on it.
Red Mana Red Mana Red Mana, Sacrifice two +1/+1 counters: Put three +1/+1 counters on Shichifukujin Dragon at end of turn. Play this ability as a sorcery.

"(At the time the card was created, the rules were different--with the rules as they are now, as the card is written it would immediately die upon coming into play!)

"All copies except for one were destroyed. The remaining Shichifukujin Dragon card was encased at the Tournament Center for public view. The Tournament Center was closed on February 28th, 2003, and the card was moved to the Hobby Japan Head Office where it currently resides.
Hobby Japan has made a set of life counters and deck boxes featuring the art on the card, but these are only available in Japan. You can see a picture of the Shichifukujin Dragon at The Magic Library (www.magiclibrary.net), an independent fan site that tracks promo and other rare cards."


Hobby Japan produced a Limited life counter, a Limited Deck Case and Limited binder using the artwork of the Shichifukujin Dragon.


Shichifukujin Dragon Life Counter
All trademarks including the Wizards of the Coast logo and Magic: The Gathering are property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Illustration by Christopher Rush. © 2002 Wizards.


Shichifukujin Hobby Japan Dragon Life Counter sealed.


Shichifukujin Dragon Hobby Japan Limited Deck Case.


Shichifukujin Dragon Hobby Japan Binder front and back sealed.


Shichifukujin Dragon Original Art and Card at the MTG 10 years museum held in Grand Prix-Yokohama 23/24 August 2003.






Shichifukujin Dragon Original Card at the Grand Prix Tokyo May 6-8, 2016


Shichifukujin Dragon acrylic derivative work by Christopher Rush (the playmat was made out of it). Pics courtesy of Jeff Ferreira.


Shichifukujin Dragon Limited Playmat Grand Prix Hong-Kong August 7-9, 2015.


1996 World Champion and Shichifukujin Dragon, Rarest Trading Cards in the Guinness Book of World Records 2012.


EXTERNAL LINKS
Ask Wizards December 2003
Land of the Rising Fun
1996 World Champion, Magic Arcana - May 9, 2002 (Wayback Machine)
1996 World Champion, Magic Arcana
World Records, Magic Arcana
World Quiz, Magic Arcana
Rarest trading card
1996 World Champion Original Art Video

INTERNAL LINKS
Hobby Japan Life Counters


1996 World Champion - Unique Cards
SETNUMCARDNAMEARTISTSOURCEDATEINFO
001 1996 World ChampionChristopher RushWinner card of the 1996 World Championship1996-08-14YES 
 


Shichifukujin Dragon 1996 - Unique Cards
SETNUMCARDNAMEARTISTSOURCEDATEINFO
002 Shichifukujin DragonChristopher RushCelebration card of the Japan DCI Tournament Center1996-?-?YES