MTG #1 Beta Set

tmmoose · December 27, 2007 7:22AM

I see we have a new #1 set - congratulations to Beta Bob! (Obviously someone had a good Christmas!)

I also noticed that spacebaby has removed his set from the registry ... how come?

betabob · December 28, 2007 11:13AM

Thanks. I got several of the key cards from Steven.

AlphaInvestments · December 29, 2007 5:28AM

Anyone know why Stevens Beta set dissappeared? Did he actually sell it........!?!?! that would be shocking!

Thulnanth · December 29, 2007 7:23AM

Hey BetaBob - congrats and welcome to the fray (1st posting)!!!

Nice that you could get your set to #1, but sorry to see Steven selling off cards. Oh well, I really do understand... you know, that whole "life" thing - really puts a crimp on my collecting too

Best of luck on all your sets - we'll all be watching

Take it easy,
Jared

Tromagic · January 3, 2008 1:32AM

Yes gratz to Bob ... Amazing set.
I think it s the best set ever made. PSA 10 is so hard to get.
9.94 ... is a dream for a set of 300 cards with the power cards

Any one is up to make the summer set with me ?

Thulnanth · January 3, 2008 4:52AM

<< <i>Any one is up to make the summer set with me ? >>

Nope... I think you're crazy

... in a good way, of course

Take it easy,
Jared

AbsolutJake · January 4, 2008 8:52AM

<< <i>Any one is up to make the summer set with me ? >>

If I wasn't obsessed with the Alphas, I would totally challenge you with that set.

I'm sure someone will step up and give you a run for your money.

NicksBetaMagic · January 7, 2009 10:59AM

Hello to everyone!!!

It took me a long time to get a password for this place. Not sure why. Im NicksBetaSet on the registry and finally stopping in to say "hi". Hope everyone has a great new year of collecting and I hope to get to know all of you.

Just FYI. I know Bob isn't interested but I have contacted PSA about starting a MTG Graded Packs section. I was thinking of the following.

ALPHA STARTER and BOOSTER
BETA STARTER and BOOSTER
UNLIMITED STARTER and BOOSTER
ARABIAN KNIGHTS BOOSTER
LEGENDS BOOSTER
ANTIQUITIES BOOSTER
DARK BOOSTER

I know it sounds crazy. I love busting the packs as much as the next guy but it is a part of history. Anyone interested???

Be safe,

Nick

Thulnanth · January 7, 2009 1:08PM

Sounds cool, but waaaay out of my price range right now

Best of luck!!

Take it easy,
Jared

tmmoose · January 7, 2009 9:03PM

I know they grade boosters already, but didn't think they graded starters?

I'm probably not likely to collect boosters graded myself although I was keen on the idea when they first announced it, I'm not sure I really like the way the booster looks like it's squished into the holder. I'd be more interested if the holder allowed the booster to sit more natuarally.

I'd be happy to support you in getting PSA to introduce them as a set/collection if you need a seconder or something like that though.

NicksBetaMagic · January 8, 2009 12:15AM

It is rather expensive and finding a ALPHA Booster that hasn't been search...yeah...good luck with that... I have a beta booster and beta starter getting graded right now and should be back to me by the end of the month. They told me I should expect a 45 day turn around. I agree, I didn't like the way GAI squished the packs in there but hope PSA does a better job. I will keep you guys posted and I've added some more trade stuff to the Beta Registry if anyone is interested.

Thanks again,
Nick

NicksBetaMagic · January 8, 2009 12:51AM

Hey guys,

Sorry, I actually wrote about these graded packs BEFORE i read your threads from, like, seven years ago... Sorry about that. I think when they get back if I don't like them and there is still no interest I will just bust em open... sigh...

I hope the starter doesn't come back squished, Id be pissed.

Nick

tmmoose · January 8, 2009 6:30AM

Is it any easier to find Beta or Arabian packs that haven't been searched? I'm assuming these days, most loose packs have probably been searched at some point in the last 15 years.

Does anyone have any good advice on how to tell if a pack has been searched or not? I've heard mention of 'eyetracks' before, but don't really know what these are. I purchased a couple of Arabian Boosters on ebay a few weeks ago which I am returning for various reasons. (One of them being being the "flap" was not sealed flat against the pack in the way they normal are straight out of the box. The other being the seller's child accidently part opened one of the packs before they sent it out and the seller just glued it shut again without telling me!). Does anyone have any good advice on signs that a pack has probably been looked at?

Thulnanth · January 8, 2009 8:49AM

Yep - if it's loose, it's been searched, that simple.

I would NEVER trust a booster unless I saw it come from a sealed box. Since Alpha/Beta were usually not sealed, I wouldn't trust any of them. It is simply too easy to search them - I remember doing it back in the day. Heck, some shops skipped the problem altogether by pre-searching them and listing the rares on the pack (true story). I think a nice clean booster would be nice to own for aesthetic reasons, but I would never trust it wasn't searched at some point.

Just my $.02 worth

Take it easy,
Jared

jasperw · January 8, 2009 9:24AM

i stopped buying booster 4 or 5 years ago. it got to the point that most were searched. even if the seller didn't search, the person they got it from did. i only buy starters now. i've had good luck them.

NicksBetaMagic · January 9, 2009 5:47AM

"Eyetracks" are the small fingernail marks in the booster pack located, usually, at the top or bottom of where the cards would normally be seated. If the pack has been searched these fingernail type indents are pretty easy to see because they crimp the booster pack multiple times. Also, if the booster pack looks like it has baggy skin, meaning the pack bulges a little too much that usually mean the pack has been pull tight in order to easily see what cards are underneath.

I would stick to starters also but the last starter I opened had ZERO RARES!!! Has this ever happened to anyone?

Anyways, as far as a set registry for packs and starters goes. I think in another 10 years or so when the pool gets depleted of unopened stuff the value of, truly, unopened and unsearched packs, Alpha thru Dark, might be worth investing in. And I agree, if we can get PSA to make a case that allows the packs to sit more freely. That would be pretty cool to have over the years. As far as having the unsearched booster packs??? I might be able to guarantee this in the future by just sending in a sealed box to be graded... anyone have an extra 20,000 grand lying around??? Legends, Arabians, Antiquities and the Dark would be easier and less expensive to do and easier to sell because they wouldn't be as expensive, interest would dictate the market value of course. Oh well, just rambling.

If anyone is looking for Beta stuff let me know. No, I don't have a 10 lotus for 50 bucks...

Nick

tmmoose · January 9, 2009 10:13PM

Nick,

Thanks for the info!

Did you really get NO rares at all, or did you just 2 rare Islands? I could see the latter happening, but the former sounds a bit strange! That must have been slightly a bit frustrating - I have some sealed stuff (mostly starters) which I comtemplate opening from time to time, but am always too worried about getting a lace or something. :-)

NicksBetaMagic · January 9, 2009 10:37PM

It was land in the rare spot. Very frustrating!!! After I get the graded starter back I'll let you know if I think they did a good job or not. Otherwise, you should sell your starters TO MEEEEEEEEEEEEE....

tmmoose · January 10, 2009 7:17AM

Heh - none of them are Beta so they'll be of no interest to you I'm afraid. :-)

I opened a couple of Antiquities Boosters and got quite mixed results - the latest one hasn't come back yet, but the first one was about 50/50 10s and 9s. I hear experience with Alpha Starters hasn't anywhere near as good!

Thulnanth · January 11, 2009 2:55AM

That's one nice thing about sealed - if you're going for graded commons and uncommons, then if the rare sucks it's not as big of a deal. Often you can still get very nice cards, albeit nothing really big. I think you might be able to do pretty well with sealed boosters if you're going for a graded set of Antiquities or Legends. With the other sets, the sealed premium is too high to offset the "searching".

Take it easy,
Jared

tmmoose · January 12, 2009 6:11AM

Well, the latest antiquities pack came back: 3/8 were PSA 10, and 5/8 were PSA 9. Of course, the 3 10's were all ones I had already (groan).

:-)

Tap4black · January 12, 2009 7:54AM

Nice results Michael, too bad about the duplicates though.

Your results are quite typical of fresh from pack cards after Wizards made the switch to the smaller corners starting with the Beta set. Alpha corners just got tore up when they shoved the stack of cards through the cutting tool while the Beta's and beyond had so much less paper stock removed that the chipping problem was almost eliminated.

Thulnanth · January 12, 2009 4:15PM

<< <i>Well, the latest antiquities pack came back: 3/8 were PSA 10, and 5/8 were PSA 9. Of course, the 3 10's were all ones I had already (groan).

:-) >>

Well then, clearly you should send them to me

Take it easy,
Jared

tmmoose · January 12, 2009 5:28PM

They are available for trade.

NicksBetaMagic · January 13, 2009 1:45AM

I would be interested in starting an Antiquities set.

What are your duplicate 10's and what are there prices?

tmmoose · January 13, 2009 6:42AM

The 10s were : Crumble, Tablet of Epityr and Yotian Soldier.

I tend to prefer to trade 10s for other cards I need for my sets though; quite often people have cards I need and they prefer to do trades rather than get cash and 10s are always more popular than 9s!

tmmoose · January 13, 2009 7:01AM

For those of you who like seeing other people's submissions, here are the full results! See if you can spot the cards I'm excited about! :-)

1 1 14152305 MINT 9 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES ARTIFACT BLAST ANTIQUITIES Card US
2 1 14152306 GEM MINT 10 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES CRUMBLE ANTIQUITIES Card US
3 1 14152307 MINT 9 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES DAMPING FIELD ANTIQUITIES Card US
4 1 14152308 MINT 9 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES GATE TO PHYREXIA ANTIQUITIES Card US
5 1 14152309 MINT 9 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES PHYREXIAN GREMLINS ANTIQUITIES Card US
6 1 14152310 MINT 9 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES URZA'S MINE ANTIQUITIES (TOWER) Card US
7 1 14152311 GEM MINT 10 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES YOTIAN SOLDIER ANTIQUITIES Card US
8 1 14152312 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED FASTBOND Card US
8 2 14152313 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED FASTBOND Card US
9 1 14152314 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED KELDON WARLORD Card US
10 1 14152315 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED MAGICAL HACK Card US
11 1 14152316 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED WINTER ORB Card US
12 1 14152317 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING FORCEFIELD ALPHA Card US
13 1 14152318 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING BIRDS OF PARADISE ALPHA Card US
14 1 14152319 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING LICH ALPHA Card US
15 1 14152320 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING MIND TWIST ALPHA Card US
16 1 14152321 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING WHEEL OF FORTUNE ALPHA Card US
16 2 14152322 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING WHEEL OF FORTUNE ALPHA Card US
17 1 14152323 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED FASTBOND Card US
17 2 14152324 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED FASTBOND Card US
18 1 14152325 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED NORTHERN PALADIN Card US
19 1 14152326 GEM MINT 10 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED VOLCANIC ERUPTION Card US
20 1 14152327 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED WINTER ORB Card US
21 1 14152328 GEM MINT 10 1994 MAGIC THE GATHERING ANTIQUITIES TABLET OF EPITYR ANTIQUITIES Card US
22 1 14152329 NEAR MINT-MINT 8 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING DEMONIC ATTORNEY ALPHA Card US
23 1 14152330 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED VOLCANIC ERUPTION Card US
23 2 14152331 MINT 9 1993 MAGIC THE GATHERING UNLIMITED VOLCANIC ERUPTION Card US

nuhurricane · January 13, 2009 7:54AM

9 mind twist very nice

tmmoose · January 13, 2009 8:05AM

That's one of them!

Thulnanth · January 13, 2009 5:50PM

Hey Michael,

Thanks for sharing. For a 27 card submission, you didn't do terrible, although there are only 5 cards I'd actually keep (the rest get cracked for decks ASAP)....

PSA 10 Antiquities Crumble
PSA 10 Antiquities Tablet of Epityr
PSA 10 Antiquities Yotian Soldier
PSA 9 Alpha Mind Twist (very nice, btw)
PSA 10 Unlimited Volcanic Eruption

The Alphas will shine sleeved up in a deck, and the rest simply aren't worth the grading fee. That being said, I think you got your money back with the Twister - nice catch

Take it easy,
Jared

NicksBetaMagic · January 13, 2009 9:38PM

CRACKED!?!?!?

You can't crack them after you grade them... You'll ruin the whole number of graded cards out there and ruin the whole thing. Gheez. ; )
Anyways, I would love to have your antiquities 10's and start that set. I have quite a few Beta cards for trade if your willing to start the expensive stuff. Well, beta 9's aren't too terribly expensive. Let me know!

Nick

Thulnanth · January 13, 2009 9:47PM

I've got more empty cases than full ones

It's true.

Take it easy,
Jared

tmmoose · January 13, 2009 11:15PM

The other antiquities will fill gaps in my set fairly well, so they have significant value to me.

The other unlimited will probably go on ebay at some point, assuming the people that tend to buy from me haven't gotten completely sick of seeing PSA 9 Volcanic Eruptions yet. (I am still gradually selling the 8 PSA 9 flights I managed to get in April!)

Nick - I will let you know about the antiquities, there is one thing I'd like to look into first. (Plus I don't actually collect Beta and have been actively avoiding doing so for lack of storage space, but we can see if we can work something out one way or the other assuming my other idea doesn't work!)

MTG #1 Beta Set

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