Fascinating Magic: The Gathering Gamma Playtest Cards Certified by CGC Trading Cards in Upcoming Auction

Nearly three dozen Magic: The Gathering playtest cards certified by the Trading Cards division of Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) are being offered in an auction this month. Bidding is already underway for Heritage Auctions’ Trading Cards and Games Signature Auction, being held July 24-25, 2021.

As Magic collectors know, the game went through a number of playtesting cycles before taking its current form. Gamma decks were developed by game creator Richard Garfield during the third phase of testing and are the source of many iconic cards that eventually were included in Magic’s official release.

More than a week before the sale, bidding had already exceeded $4,000 for one of these rare playtest cards: a Time Walk from the 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition graded CGC 8.5. The card not only is from the Gamma playtest deck, but also is the precursor to a card in the Power 9 — one of the nine most-powerful cards in the game and of the highest rarity in each set that they appeared in.

Time Walk from the Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition graded CGC 8.5 Click images to enlarge.

The image used for this playtest card was taken from comic anthology Epic Illustrated #32 and the card includes a League Stamp on the back with a pen-marked "X" through the League Stamp.

Other cards from the Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition include a Fireball graded CGC 7 (lot 36050) and a Lightning Bolt graded CGC 7 (lot 36060). Bidding for them had reached $675 and $1,500 more than a week before the auction.

Two cards from the Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition: a Fireball graded CGC 7 (left) and a Lightning Bolt graded CGC 7 (right) Click images to enlarge.

Other Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition cards certified by CGC Trading Cards in the auction include:

• an Armour graded CGC 5.5 (lot 36038)
• an Elemental Blast graded CGC 7.5 (lot 36046)
• a Blaze of Glory graded CGC 5 (lot 36039)
• a Circle of Protection from Red Magic graded CGC 5.5 (lot 36040)
• a Flashfires graded CGC 7 (lot 36051)
• a Heal graded CGC 8.5 (lot 36056)
• a Jump graded CGC 7 (lot 36059)
• a Mosquitos graded CGC 9 (lot 36062)
• a Tunnel graded CGC 6.5 (lot 36066)

Related Link

• CGC Trading Cards Goes Back in Time to the Very Beginning of Magic