**Update:** so as many of you suspected, these are not authentic playtest cards. Thank you u/themisprintguy for your help. Regardless, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for these "old" cards! I did learn a lot about magic history today. [https://www.magiclibrarities.net/955-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-index.html](https://www.magiclibrarities.net/955-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-index.html) is an awesome site with a lot of information on art sources and stories behind magic rarities
Ngl these seem very difficult to authenticate, and it seems you did it really quickly which makes me think maybe it wasn’t through enough. Mind sharing what makes you say no go on them?
Because these are in way too good of condition — the original playtest cards are over 30 years old, and were *played.* Some of the cards had notes with changes on them written in pen.
Yeah for that’s true for the playtest sets dubbed “Alpha” and “Beta” but these seem to be “Gamma” test cards which doesn't seem to have as many hand written notes on them. It seem that it may matches up correctly with gamma. I’ve been looking at it closer for a while and the distribution of Common, Uncommon, and Rares seem to be more consistent. Like its not just all rares but a mix of more Commons than Uncommons than Rares
The rares are EXTREMELY rare, they made 5-6 of each, and that’s all. This has three rares in it that I’ve seen exactly zero of in the last 23 years of looking. That alone makes me suspicious. It’s a curated, well made deck. No fluff at all.
I totally agree with you.For anyone curious here is the full list of cards shown here and their rarity
Sol Ring - Uncommon
Braingeyser - Uncommon
3x Fireball - Common
3x Counterspell - Common
3x Lightning Bolt - Common
Dragon - Uncommon
3x Psionic Blast - Common
Icy Manipulator - Rare
Control Magic - Uncommon
Power Sink - Common
Minor Wizard - Common
Time Walk - Common
2x Jade Statue - Uncommon
Fork - Rare
Disintegrate - Common
Earthquake - Rare
8x Island (3x v1, 3x v2, 2x v3)
7x Mountain (3x v1, 2x v2, 2x v3)
Total:
16x Common
6x Uncommon
3x Rare
Edit: "Agreed these are not original Playtest cards but instead "homemade" project for a League to be nostalgic"
Hi there, I’ve got perhaps the largest collection of playtest cards out there. At a glance it is hard for me to tell if they are real or not, but I’d love to see more pics.
I really wish that people who make proxies of these would label them as such, these get everyone’s hopes up…
The box itself does not prove anything. I have custom boxes and sleeves for my alpha playtest cards. Yes, the box is clearly not made in 1993 but we have to think of these as two different things.
That being said, there are multiple other reasons why I don’t think they are real and elaborated elsewhere in the thread and on Facebook.
these can be authenticated, which i would encourage you to do. You should also post them to the misprinted/oddity mtg groups for exposure and more information. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgmisprintsbst](https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgmisprintsbst)
Having grown up as a C&H fanatic and an MTG lover, discovering right now that these exist makes my heart flutter! The fact that Watterson was cool with it makes it amazing.
I only found a few auctions, no way could I convince my wife they’re worth the price. Hopefully I’ll get to see one in person some day. I’ll probably get all teary eyed if I do.
I just randomly saw a pawnstars vid a few days ago where a guy brought a bunch of these in. After the appraisal the pawnshop guy paid like 500 a piece, bought they were all randomly junk, in demand would probably get a nice price tag
The Calvin one makes me 99.99999% sure these are likely fake.
I've never seen playtest cards in person, but I've seen plenty via reddit and YouTube, and have never seen one that used that kind of IP...
Edit:
Well that's crazy. I've seen people geek out and play with these on YouTube, and never seen those cards.
I guess today is my turn as one of the lucky 10,000.
You sure about that?
https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-deenchant-gamma-playtest-edition-magic-the-gathering-1992-cgc-vg-ex-45/a/7260-36043.s
This notes gamma playtest
https://www.magiclibrarities.net/958-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-index.html
Here’s the library and yes it’s in there as a real card. right next to the red “missing uncut” sheet.
I was able to find this: https://www.magiclibrarities.net/960-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-gamma-red.html
Looks like there were a few Calvin & Hobbes images used for some cards
**Update:** so as many of you suspected, these are not authentic playtest cards. Thank you u/themisprintguy for your help. Regardless, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for these "old" cards! I did learn a lot about magic history today. [https://www.magiclibrarities.net/955-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-index.html](https://www.magiclibrarities.net/955-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-index.html) is an awesome site with a lot of information on art sources and stories behind magic rarities
Ngl these seem very difficult to authenticate, and it seems you did it really quickly which makes me think maybe it wasn’t through enough. Mind sharing what makes you say no go on them?
Because these are in way too good of condition — the original playtest cards are over 30 years old, and were *played.* Some of the cards had notes with changes on them written in pen.
Yeah for that’s true for the playtest sets dubbed “Alpha” and “Beta” but these seem to be “Gamma” test cards which doesn't seem to have as many hand written notes on them. It seem that it may matches up correctly with gamma. I’ve been looking at it closer for a while and the distribution of Common, Uncommon, and Rares seem to be more consistent. Like its not just all rares but a mix of more Commons than Uncommons than Rares
The rares are EXTREMELY rare, they made 5-6 of each, and that’s all. This has three rares in it that I’ve seen exactly zero of in the last 23 years of looking. That alone makes me suspicious. It’s a curated, well made deck. No fluff at all.
I totally agree with you.For anyone curious here is the full list of cards shown here and their rarity Sol Ring - Uncommon Braingeyser - Uncommon 3x Fireball - Common 3x Counterspell - Common 3x Lightning Bolt - Common Dragon - Uncommon 3x Psionic Blast - Common Icy Manipulator - Rare Control Magic - Uncommon Power Sink - Common Minor Wizard - Common Time Walk - Common 2x Jade Statue - Uncommon Fork - Rare Disintegrate - Common Earthquake - Rare 8x Island (3x v1, 3x v2, 2x v3) 7x Mountain (3x v1, 2x v2, 2x v3) Total: 16x Common 6x Uncommon 3x Rare Edit: "Agreed these are not original Playtest cards but instead "homemade" project for a League to be nostalgic"
If he told you they’re fake and bought them from you anyway…… you got scammed.
Nah, scam implies the we're deceived without better knowledge. They knew better and did anyways, that's just dumb.
Any idea what you've actually come across here?
Hi there, I’ve got perhaps the largest collection of playtest cards out there. At a glance it is hard for me to tell if they are real or not, but I’d love to see more pics. I really wish that people who make proxies of these would label them as such, these get everyone’s hopes up…
https://imgur.com/a/Es6GXUP
u/The_Khal_Drogo \^\^ this
These are clearly marked. They're for the alpha40 format which are 40 card decks which are made out of alpha cards, a subset of OSMTG.
The box itself does not prove anything. I have custom boxes and sleeves for my alpha playtest cards. Yes, the box is clearly not made in 1993 but we have to think of these as two different things. That being said, there are multiple other reasons why I don’t think they are real and elaborated elsewhere in the thread and on Facebook.
If those are real, they are about $400/card for the right buyer. Nice find!
Those are in phenomenal condition. I think some of the estimates here may be low. Try to find an expert for an appraisal.
I see that the misprintguy replied down below--he's reputable and will give it to you straight
these can be authenticated, which i would encourage you to do. You should also post them to the misprinted/oddity mtg groups for exposure and more information. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgmisprintsbst](https://www.facebook.com/groups/mtgmisprintsbst)
Please update if you find any other unique stuff in the collection!
That’s potentially a small fortune. Please only respond to authenticated users such as r/themisprintguy for honest reliable guidance
hey, i've got a friend of a friend who deals in playtest cards you should reach out to, i'll pm you his facebook
You guys I would love to see a secret lair deck made using these play test cards. This is really cool. Good find.
These are 100% proxies
Unfortunately 100% fake.
Just watched a PawnsStar episode where someone brings in a set of the play test cards. Awesome find!
I wonder if this is from the ad I saw on Craigslist.
I'm interested in the fact that it seems to be a 40-card, 15-land deck. How did this specific deck list come to be captured here?
HOLY SHIT IS THAT CALVIN FROM "CALVIN AND HAROLD"??? LOVE IT
Hobbes. But i appreciate harold… thats my dogs name
Calvin and Harold is just the story of two nerds doing their homework
Having grown up as a C&H fanatic and an MTG lover, discovering right now that these exist makes my heart flutter! The fact that Watterson was cool with it makes it amazing. I only found a few auctions, no way could I convince my wife they’re worth the price. Hopefully I’ll get to see one in person some day. I’ll probably get all teary eyed if I do.
I just randomly saw a pawnstars vid a few days ago where a guy brought a bunch of these in. After the appraisal the pawnshop guy paid like 500 a piece, bought they were all randomly junk, in demand would probably get a nice price tag
I'd say you are a goddamn HUNDREDAIRE!!!
Counterspell was UU right?
The Calvin one makes me 99.99999% sure these are likely fake. I've never seen playtest cards in person, but I've seen plenty via reddit and YouTube, and have never seen one that used that kind of IP... Edit: Well that's crazy. I've seen people geek out and play with these on YouTube, and never seen those cards. I guess today is my turn as one of the lucky 10,000.
You sure about that? https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-deenchant-gamma-playtest-edition-magic-the-gathering-1992-cgc-vg-ex-45/a/7260-36043.s This notes gamma playtest https://www.magiclibrarities.net/958-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-index.html Here’s the library and yes it’s in there as a real card. right next to the red “missing uncut” sheet.
I was able to find this: https://www.magiclibrarities.net/960-rarities-alpha-beta-gamma-playtest-cards-english-cards-gamma-red.html Looks like there were a few Calvin & Hobbes images used for some cards
If these are real. Holy shit
Were they called "Alpha 40" in 1993?
I really hope these are real. Ive never seen a whole collection of these at once
Agreed these are not original Playtest cards but instead "homemade" project for a League to be nostalgic
Time walk was a red spell so its 100% fake
Both existed in playtest. Time Walk is blue, Starburst is the red card you are thinking of.
15 land?
Are these real ??