Summary
The highest-priced sale of a singleMagic: The Gatheringcard occurred recently, with the buyer purchasing the card for a sum of $3 million. The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed, but the company that certified theMagic: The Gatheringcard’s authenticity and condition has verified that the sale took place in late April 2024.
The card that was able to fetch that hefty sum was an Alpha Black Lotus. Released in 1993 byWizards of the Coast, Black Lotus cards were packaged in the card game’s Limited Edition Alpha and Beta sets, as well as the game’s Unlimited Edition. While approximately 22,400 Black Lotus cards were produced between those three sets, only around 1,100 were printed for the Alpha set, making them a highly-sought-after find for collectors. While there have been some additional Black Lotus printings, including oversized versions and promotional cards that are ineligible for use in tournaments, the Alpha Black Lotus remains the biggest prize amongMagiccollectors.
News of the historic sale was reported by CGC Cards via its Instagram account. Considered therarest card inMagic: The Gathering, the Alpha Black Lotus' condition was graded by CGC Cards as “a Pristine 10/10” despite its age, and the company reported that a mystery buyer had purchased it from seller Adam Cai of Pristine Collectibles, an online card inventory and consignment shop and grading service.
The Black Lotus Card’s Record-Breaking History
While this is the highest-known sum ever paid for anyMagic: The Gatheringcard, it’s not the first time a Black Lotus has fetched a hefty price from a buyer. In 2021, a signedAlpha Black Lotus broke auction recordson eBay, selling for $511,100. That sale broke a previous eBay record from 2019, when a Black Lotus card sold at auction for a price of $166,100.
More recently, rapper/singer Post Malone purchased a differentMagiccard, aLord of the Rings-themedThe One Ring card for $2.6 million, which occurred in summer 2023. Functionally, the Black Lotus card serves as an Artifact, and when sacrificed, it allows a player to add three mana of any color to their mana pool. Since the Black Lotus has no mana cost to put into play, it provides an easy way for players to stockpile mana even at the start of a game. Considering the hefty value placed on the Black Lotus and this particular one’s pristine condition, it’s highly unlikely that it’ll ever see use during a game, but it’s still a coveted find that a lot of collectors crave.
Magic The Gathering
Magic the Gathering is a tabletop and digital collectable card game created by Richard Garfield and released in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Players take on the role of a Planeswalker and use various cards to battle other players by casting spells, summoning creatures, or utilizing artifacts. It features two main rule categories, constructed or limited, and can be played by two or more players at a time.
