Straight to the point, I haven't played magic since I was a kid. Recently I have gotten into the Commander series for fun after work, and soon realized I had inherited 1000+ 20-25 year old cards (With a few of them signed as well) that have been sitting in my closet for an obviously long time. I'm aware a couple of these cards might have value and I'm hoping to discuss and determine what that value might be, and what to do with these cards if I sell them. I'll include a couple photos of the Ancestral Recall (Collectors edition, worn) and some other pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I'm aware a couple of these cards might have value and I'm hoping to discuss and determine what that value might be, and what to do with these cards if I sell them.
So, you're thinking about selling your older cards that you haven't been using for a while?
CE Ancestral Recall is a $500 card, in LP condition. Yours is DM. That takes a pretty big gouge out of the price - since CE Power is really only useful to collectors (some people play CE in EDH, but Ancestral Recall is banned there), they want cards in pristine condition. The thinking is "Well, I'm paying this much for a copy - I'd rather pay a bit more and get one that looks sharp!" I'd say you can probably get $100 for it relatively easily, but getting more would take some work and a lot of luck. No other card in the photos has significant value. Don't get me wrong - Swords to Plowshares and Necropotence are both fine cards that will do very well for you in your Commander games, but they're by far the best cards I'm seeing, and they're a handful of dollars each.
You have a number of signed cards, but nothing by any artists who are extremely reclusive, hermetic, or dead. If you have any signed cards with white backs (completely blank), let me know, but otherwise you're not looking at significantly valuable cardboard. I'd throw the Recall on eBay and see what it fetches, and go through the rest and see what gems might work with your after-work entertainment.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Along with many mods, I've moved shop over to MTGNexus. Come check us out!
A great way to get the cards you need w/ less hassle than trading for store credit or dealing w/ cash (TCGPlayer, EBay, etc...) is to join Puca Trade or Card Sphere to trade away unwanted cards from the inheritance. Organize everything 50 cents or higher, learns the ropes, & start trading for singles you can use in your EDH deck(s). You can also try trading here, but that is a bit more limited with exact matches of wants. True, it will be a slow start, but after a couple weeks, the trades should start to gradually come in. Those two sites (Puca & Card Sphere) are for the patient, so do not expect to see a return in trades w/in the first week. Both of them require credits (Puca Points or a real dollar [real virtual dollars, that is] from cards being sent out first to get started.
There already is a Puca Trade thread here in the Marketplace, which could also be used to answer questions for Card Sphere. That thread should be able to answer any question you about online trading.
Stay away from Pucatrade, it's a waste of time and effort. At one point it was a really great site, now it isn't worth the hassle. I'd rather spend the extra time needed for Puca, by instead living my life and sell the cards on eBay or to a local store and move on.
And of course, Ancestral Recall. The CE edition is desirable to people who play 93/94 magic, since they allow CE and IE cards in the format. So don't be fooled by the idea that only collectors want them. Actually a perfect card for someone who wants to play 93/94 and really only cares about getting the cards to play the game. I would put that on eBay and take the rest to a card shop (maybe toss those signed ones on there as a lot too).
I'd stay away from EBay, it's a waste of time and effort. Between EBay fees and PayPal fees, you'll end up dishing out around 20% of the value, and w/ EBay, there is much competition, so you will have to settle for the low end of the spectrum. LGS will not buy a collector's edition card (this advice is aimed mostly at the CE Ancestral). I wouldn't listen to urweak regarding Pucatrade. I have succeeded in getting cards like Elephant Graveyard and Old Man from the Sea on that site. Like anything in life, you get back what you put in.
I'd stay away from EBay, it's a waste of time and effort. Between EBay fees and PayPal fees, you'll end up dishing out around 20% of the value, and w/ EBay, there is much competition, so you will have to settle for the low end of the spectrum. LGS will not buy a collector's edition card (this advice is aimed mostly at the CE Ancestral). I wouldn't listen to urweak regarding Pucatrade. I have succeeded in getting cards like Elephant Graveyard and Old Man from the Sea on that site. Like anything in life, you get back what you put in.
Very true about the fees, you will lose 20% of whatever you sell on there.
If a LGS doesnt buy something like a IE/CE Acall, they're doing something wrong. Unless they only sell Standard legal cards. Like I mentioned, IE/CE cards are legal in 93/94 so there are people out there that really want these (considering the current prices on a ABU version).
As for Puca, I've been a member since '14/'15 and saw the site go from something beneficial to the community, to what it is now. I've received duals and other high end RL cards on there, but that was a long time ago. I really wish I was wrong, but since the way the site has change it's just not worth it anymore. Personally, I would rather spend the time doing other things with my life, but I can see how putting in work on Puca, could be a hobby unto itself.
So, you're thinking about selling your older cards that you haven't been using for a while?
CE Ancestral Recall is a $500 card, in LP condition. Yours is DM. That takes a pretty big gouge out of the price - since CE Power is really only useful to collectors (some people play CE in EDH, but Ancestral Recall is banned there), they want cards in pristine condition. The thinking is "Well, I'm paying this much for a copy - I'd rather pay a bit more and get one that looks sharp!" I'd say you can probably get $100 for it relatively easily, but getting more would take some work and a lot of luck. No other card in the photos has significant value. Don't get me wrong - Swords to Plowshares and Necropotence are both fine cards that will do very well for you in your Commander games, but they're by far the best cards I'm seeing, and they're a handful of dollars each.
You have a number of signed cards, but nothing by any artists who are extremely reclusive, hermetic, or dead. If you have any signed cards with white backs (completely blank), let me know, but otherwise you're not looking at significantly valuable cardboard. I'd throw the Recall on eBay and see what it fetches, and go through the rest and see what gems might work with your after-work entertainment.
There already is a Puca Trade thread here in the Marketplace, which could also be used to answer questions for Card Sphere. That thread should be able to answer any question you about online trading.
We are here to help
And, since I failed to say so last time, welcome to MTGS.
From what I can see, the stuff that holds value/demand are Hymn to Tourach, Swords to Plowshares, Necropotence, Mind Twist, Brainstorm, and Hurkyl's Recall.
And of course, Ancestral Recall. The CE edition is desirable to people who play 93/94 magic, since they allow CE and IE cards in the format. So don't be fooled by the idea that only collectors want them. Actually a perfect card for someone who wants to play 93/94 and really only cares about getting the cards to play the game. I would put that on eBay and take the rest to a card shop (maybe toss those signed ones on there as a lot too).
BUWGRChilds PlayGRWUB
BUWGR Highlander GRWUB
UBSquee's Shapeshifting PetBU
BW Multiplayer Control WB
RG Changeling GR
UR Mana FlareRU
UMerfolkU
B MBMC B
Very true about the fees, you will lose 20% of whatever you sell on there.
If a LGS doesnt buy something like a IE/CE Acall, they're doing something wrong. Unless they only sell Standard legal cards. Like I mentioned, IE/CE cards are legal in 93/94 so there are people out there that really want these (considering the current prices on a ABU version).
As for Puca, I've been a member since '14/'15 and saw the site go from something beneficial to the community, to what it is now. I've received duals and other high end RL cards on there, but that was a long time ago. I really wish I was wrong, but since the way the site has change it's just not worth it anymore. Personally, I would rather spend the time doing other things with my life, but I can see how putting in work on Puca, could be a hobby unto itself.
BUWGRChilds PlayGRWUB
BUWGR Highlander GRWUB
UBSquee's Shapeshifting PetBU
BW Multiplayer Control WB
RG Changeling GR
UR Mana FlareRU
UMerfolkU
B MBMC B