Cranston, RI, USA, February 16, 2022 -- Anyone who doubts the soaring popularity of Magic: The Gathering trading cards needs to look no further than Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ upcoming Winter Comic, TCG (Trading Card Games) & Toy auction slated for Saturday, February 26th, starting promptly at 10 am Eastern. The top five lots – all MTG cards – have a combined high estimate of $135,000.
The sale, packed with 427 lots curated from across the country, will be held online as well as in Bruneau & Co.’s gallery located at 63 Fourth Avenue in Cranston, R.I. Internet bidding will be facilitated by the popular platforms LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com, plus bidLIVE.Bruneauandco.com and the mobile app ‘Bruneau & Co.’ on iTunes or GooglePlay.
All five of the expected top lots are MTG cards from a single-owner Virginia collection and all are from 1993. Tip-top among these is a Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus card, graded CGC 9 Mint, a Holy Grail item for MTG collectors (estimate: $40,000-$60,000). It’s idolized for its fast mana acceleration during play and is famous for its elegant artwork by Christopher Rush.
Next in line is lot 219: a Magic: The Gathering Alpha Ancestral Recall card, graded CGC 9.5 Gem Mint (estimate: $20,000-$30,000). Another MTG Holy Grail card, the Power Nine is on most every collector's wish list to complete, with Alpha print being the most coveted. As a CGC 9.5 Gem Mint example, it’s one of the finest to hit public auction.
A Magic: The Gathering Beta Mox Sapphire trading card, graded CGC 9.5 Gem Mint, has an estimate of $10,000-$20,000. The Mox gem artifact cards are an incredibly powerful set, rightfully earning their place in the Power Nine. This Mox Sapphire, as a CGC 9.5 Beta print example, is one of the finest on the open market, a must-have card.
A Magic: The Gathering Alpha Timetwister trading card, graded BGS 8.5 NM-MT+, is expected to change hands for $10,000-$15,000. When played with the other cards of the Power Nine, Timetwister becomes a very powerful tool. As an Alpha print BGS 8.5 example, this card is a serious investment for the serious collector’s MTG portfolio.
A Magic: The Gathering Beta Time Walk trading card, graded CGC 9 Mint, earns its place in the Power Nine for the incredibly powerful advantage of taking an extra turn in play. It, too, is a serious investment for an MTG portfolio (estimate: $7,000-$10,000).
“It’s amazing to see how many different things come into the gallery,” said Kevin Bruneau, Bruneau & Co’s president and an auctioneer. “While the Magic: The Gathering collection is very exciting, I’m still eager to see our gallery wall of comics with all that color. The copy of Wonder Woman #7 is a great wartime cover that’s sure to attract interest. It’ll be a fun sale.”
The D.C. Comics copy of Wonder Woman issue #7 (Winter, 1943) features a “Wonder Woman for President” story and cover with art by H.G. Peter. Per the CGC census 5 in 3.5, only 44 examples are higher. This is a scarce and iconic wartime Golden Age D.C. cover, a rare opportunity for collectors today; in a CDC case (estimate: $4,000-$6,000).
A copy of Marvel Comics Amazing Spider-Man Annual issue #1 from 1964 has a pre-sale estimate of $3,000-$4,000. The 72-page comic book features the first appearance of the Sinister Six, with appearances by Thor, Giant-Man, Wasp, Dr. Strange and the Fantastic Four. It’s graded CGC 6.0, with off-white pages. The CGC case is 13 inches by 8 inches.
A copy of D.C. Comics Detective Comics #359 (January, 1967), graded CGC 8.0 with white pages, features the origin and first appearance of Batgirl and has a Killer Moth appearance. Per the CGC census 104 in 8.0, 180 are higher (estimate: $3,000-$4,000).
A preview is available by appointment the week of and day of sale, with doors opening at 9 am Eastern time. To schedule an appointment, you may call (401) 533-9980; or, you can send an email to info@bruneauandco.com. Bidding will be available via in-person, absentee, telephone or Internet, with a 20 percent buyer's premium (or 18 percent with cash, check or wire transfer).
Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers has three auctions lined up for March: a DiscoverIt Antiques & Collectibles Auction on Friday, March 4th, at 6 pm Eastern; a Comic Books Auction hosted on BidLive.Bruneauandco.com on Wednesday, March 23rd at 6 pm Eastern; and an online-only Estates Fine Art & Antiques Auction on Monday, March 28th, beginning at 6 pm Eastern time.
To learn more about Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers and the Winter Comic, TCG & Toy auction slated for Saturday, February 26th, starting at 10 am Eastern, visit www.bruneauandco.com.
About Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers:
Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions, with commissions as low as zero percent. Now would be a perfect time to clean out your attic. To contact Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers about consigning a single piece or an entire collection, you may send an e-mail to info@bruneauandco.com. Or, you can phone them at 401-533-9980. To learn more about Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, visit www.bruneauandco.com. Updates are posted often.