# Buying your Magic the Gathering Card collections **URL:** \ **Category:** Marketplace\ **Created:** [December 8, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357 "2010-12-08T00:19:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/41 "2010-12-11T21:35:52Z")
OK thanks. Though I see you specified that you’d pick up the shipping, so that’s a bit less of a concern from my end, it still could be from yours. Per your suggestion I measured the thickness of a stack of 100 MtG cards (islands). For the record, it’s pretty much exactly 1-1/4" for 100 unsleeved cards. Now to estimate how many of these suckers I’ve got not in sleeved decks… ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/42 "2010-12-11T21:41:02Z")
Completely, 100% off-topic - every SINGLE time I see the title of this thread, I read it as “Burning your Magic the Gather Card collections,” and think that I should get my best friend to read it so he can get rid of the vast piles of cards he has 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/43 "2010-12-11T22:49:15Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Completely, 100% off-topic - every SINGLE time I see the title of this thread, I read it as “Burning your Magic the Gather Card collections,” and think that I should get my best friend to read it so he can get rid of the vast piles of cards he has 🙂 Burn then, give them to me…whatever he wants to do 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/44 "2010-12-13T15:33:38Z")
I found my cards this weekend, which is nice, since I didn’t know where they were last week. Sifting through them is another issue. So far I’ve found a Sol Ring and a Fork. So that what? Like 2 bucks right there? :D. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/45 "2010-12-13T16:19:10Z")
If they’re in good shape, they’re worth about $5 cash each. They go from $9-$10 at a shop. Most shops will buy them for $3-$7. **Enderw24** , check your PMs. I shot you a list of stuff I could live without. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/46 "2010-12-13T16:20:49Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > If they’re in good shape And this is where my anal-retentiveness comes to good use. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/47 "2010-12-13T16:30:20Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > If they’re in good shape, they’re worth about $5 cash each. They go from $9-$10 at a shop. Most shops will buy them for $3-$7. > > **Enderw24** , check your PMs. I shot you a list of stuff I could live without. > > Enjoy, > Steven I got it. Still sorting through some messages. I’ll have an answer to you by this afternoon. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/48 "2010-12-13T19:26:57Z")
Any interest in German language cards? It’s been so long that I can’t remember names of the sets. They probably from the mid to late 90s. I’m in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/49 "2010-12-14T00:34:28Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > Any interest in German language cards? It’s been so long that I can’t remember names of the sets. They probably from the mid to late 90s. I’m in Chicago. I’d be interested in them, but I’m uncertain at this point how much I’d be able to offer for them. Desirability of cards in Romantic/European Languages tends to fluctuate on a card by card basis. In general it’s at, or below, the value of an English language card. But sometimes there’s the rare card where the value shoots up just because it’s foreign. We can work through some basic info to determine a bit more about the cards. Approximately how many are there? Are they black bordered or white bordered? Are there any symbols to signify sets in the middle of the cards on the righthand side? What’s the copyright at the bottom say? If you like, you can PM me with more details and we can work through the figures together. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/50 "2010-12-14T02:50:59Z")
Score! Savannah Volcanic Island x2 Badlands Demonic Tutor Sol Ring x3 Anything else I should look for? I swear I had other cards. I remember my friend giving me a weird card with super round corners, but I can’t find it anymore. I can’t find other cards that I remember having either, Birds of Paradise, Blue Doppleganger. I must have a stash tucked away somewhere else… or I threw them away ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/51 "2010-12-14T04:23:14Z")
Those are all great cards sachertorte and ones I’d be interested in certainly. Here’s some help in sorting your cards (depending on how many you have and whether it’s worth your time to do so) If it’s black bordered and there’s no expansion symbol (which will always be in the middle, righthand side) it’s either Alpha or Beta. If it’s white bordered and no expansion, it’s either Unlimited, Revised or 4th. The UNL or Rev you can tell because there’s no copyright symbol date on the bottom and they appear a bit faded or muted in color as compared to other cards. Arabian Knights have a scimitar as an expansion symbol and Legends has a portion of a column as its symbol. The key cards you’re looking for, for the most part, have been listed. If you want to PM me, I can help give you an estimate of how many cards you have and what I’d be willing to pay for them. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/52 "2010-12-14T05:36:28Z")
I just looked through my boyfriend’s cards. I knew he had at least 2 Demonic Tutors. Sadly, they’re 3rd revised. I wonder what else he has in there. He definitely doesn’t have as many as you guys though. I think he actually has more Star Trek cards than Magic cards. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/53 "2010-12-14T18:42:25Z")
Enderw24, I’ve been wanting to get rid of all the cards I don’t need anymore - looks like roughly 600 or so. I’ll PM you with an exact count and condition info. Thanks for this deal. I’ve been wanting to pare down the collection a bit and just keep a couple of my favorite decks and a small stack of cards that I consider favorites, but no local shops do any trading anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/54 "2010-12-14T18:46:26Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > I just looked through my boyfriend’s cards. I knew he had at least 2 Demonic Tutors. Sadly, they’re 3rd revised. I wonder what else he has in there. He definitely doesn’t have as many as you guys though. I think he actually has more Star Trek cards than Magic cards. Revised is fine. Not a problem. Let me know what all you’d like to sell and perhaps we can make a deal. I’d just suggest that you get your boyfriend’s permission first, lest he find his favorite cards missing 🙂 > [@Justin\_Credible](#): > > Enderw24, I’ve been wanting to get rid of all the cards I don’t need anymore - looks like roughly 600 or so. I’ll PM you with an exact count and condition info. > Thanks for this deal. I’ve been wanting to pare down the collection a bit and just keep a couple of my favorite decks and a small stack of cards that I consider favorites, but no local shops do any trading anymore. Glad to help. Look forward to your PM. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/55 "2010-12-14T19:21:21Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > Revised is fine. Not a problem. Let me know what all you’d like to sell and perhaps we can make a deal. I’d just suggest that you get your boyfriend’s permission first, lest he find his favorite cards missing 🙂 Revised may be fine, but it’s worth about $80 less apparently. 😃 Actually I have no idea if he wants to get rid of his Magic cards. He really doesn’t have a huge amount and we have more than enough storage space in this house so they’re not in the way. I only remembered the Demonic Tutor because it was a card I always made sure I had in my deck. I just couldn’t remember what color the border was. The only thing of his that I’d sell without telling him first is the Transformers (he already said it’s ok, except I can’t sell Jetfire). ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/56 "2010-12-14T19:30:12Z")
This thread made for a fun treasure hunt, and I learned something too. Sol Ring – who would have thought? ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/57 "2010-12-14T21:08:25Z")
Sol Ring is valuable for the same reason the Moxes and Lotus are. They provide more of a resource than they require to play. The cost of the Sol Ring isn’t zero, and it’s colorless mana, so it’s less valuable than the others in play terms. The Sol Ring was also printed at uncommon and in more editions(mainly the Revised printing) so it isn’t as valuable monetarially. But the principle holds and drives its value. c.f. Mana Vault, Mana Crypt. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2010, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/58 "2010-12-14T22:37:39Z")
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I remember always wanting to have a sol ring in my deck and being quite happy when it came up. I guess I’m just surprised that they are somewhat rare now when before they were quite common. And by before I mean 1995. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/59 "2010-12-15T01:41:29Z")
**Enderw24** , at some point many years ago I ended up with a single green/red deck, the cards of which (excluding land, of course) have only been played about three times. There’s nothing of value in it (example: after a quick glance, the most notable card I saw was Barbarian Ring…). I’m in Indiana, so I’d be willing to donate these to you just to have one less thing in my collection of ‘stuff I can’t seem to decide wtf to do with’ and pay my own shipping - just PM me with a mailing address. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357/60 "2010-12-15T17:32:42Z")
**Attention Dopers** : I just completed my transaction with **Enderw24**. He’s an excellent and trustworthy buyer. He maintained superb communication throughout the process, and paid promptly and generously. Very highly recommended. Sell with confidence, people. Thanks again, **Ender**! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-your-magic-the-gathering-card-collections/563357.md?page=4)