1993 Magic The Gathering MTG Beta Artist Proof Black Lotus AUTO BAS BGS 8.5

Any Artist Proof Beta Black Lotus that appears for public sale rightfully commands the attention of the TCG collecting community. But this offering stands out from many of its peers thanks to an autograph from Christopher Rush, the monumentally influential illustrator who created the iconic Black Lotus artwork. Rush, who passed away in 2016, gave MTG players, collectors, and fans one of the most iconic pieces of TCG artwork ever produced, with the card enshrined in the hallowed lore of trading card history. BGS has graded just seven total Artist Proof Beta Black Lotus cards, none of which have earned a higher overall grade than this Pop. 2 BGS 8.5. Of those seven, only four are autographed. Considering the card’s importance, that BGS 8.5 grade, and the presence of Rush’s autograph, this stands as one of the most significant Magic: the Gathering collectibles to hit public auction in years. The Black Lotus transcends MTG, its status as one of, if not the, most important and coveted TCG cards ever produced cemented over the three-plus decades since its release. It’s believed only 3,300 copies of the Limited Edition Beta Black Lotus were printed. The card’s incredible power made it a favorite amongst the lucky collectors and players able to find one, thus ensuring it was included in decks and incurred plenty of wear and tear from gameplay. And with Magic pioneering the TCG concept, few owners at the time were concerned with condition preservation. As such, finding any Black Lotus in any condition is difficult enough. While the exact print run is unknown, it’s safe to say there are far fewer Artist Proof versions of the card. With Artist Proof cards generally presented to illustrators to give them an idea of what the card will look like when produced, there’s a chance this example was initially owned by Rush. The rare nature of Artist Proof Black Lotus cards, this example’s BGS 8.5 grade, and the presence of the late Rush’s autograph are sure to have plenty of MTG collectors tapping into this month’s auction. The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 11/05/24.