Card image via Scryfall. Magic: The Gathering card art is © Wizards of the Coast; artist Mark Poole. CardVolume is unofficial Fan Content permitted under the Fan Content Policy, not approved/endorsed by Wizards. Alpha printing.
Ancestral Recall
Limited Edition Alpha
Values as of Sep 26, 2026 in USD. Market price = median of at least 5 qualifying sales of this exact version and grade in the last 90 days. Methodology
Sales history
| Date | Version | Grade | Price | Venue | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 11, 2024 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $15,625 incl. premium | Heritage Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Jul 7, 2023 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $16,875 incl. premium | Heritage Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 4, 2022 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9.5 | $36,000 incl. premium | Heritage Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
| Mar 25, 2021 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $21,600 incl. premium | Heritage Auctions auction | Cross-checked | Open |
Verified: an editor or automated check confirmed the figure on the source page. Cross-checked: an independent second research pass reopened the source and confirmed it. Reported: cited by research but not re-checked; never used in metrics. Asking prices are never listed here.
Price chart
Limited Edition Alpha · BGS 9.5
Fewer than two qualifying sales for BGS 9.5; no chart.
Limited Edition Alpha · BGS 9
Graded population
| Version | Grader | Grade | Count | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited Edition Alpha | BGS | 9 | 60 | Jul 7, 2023 | Open |
Population counts copies graded by one company in one grade. It is not a print run and it grows with every submission. Why population is not print run
Grading math for this card
Prefilled with the latest qualifying sale for each grade where one exists. Replace any value with your own. We never suggest what grade your copy will get.
Formula from Grading: condition, uncertainty, and economics: grading pays only if your honest chance of the high grade exceeds (raw net + cost − other-outcome net) ÷ (high-grade net − other-outcome net). The 13% fee is an editable assumption, not a quoted tariff.
About Ancestral Recall
Ancestral Recall is the original one-blue-mana draw spell from Limited Edition Alpha and one of the Power Nine. Collectors search for it because it is a first-set Reserved List card with separate Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, grade, and condition markets.
Why this card matters
Verified factAncestral Recall matters as one of Magic's original Power Nine cards and as a Limited Edition Alpha rare by Mark Poole. The catalog record identifies the Alpha card as number 47, available nonfoil, and released on August 5, 1993. Wizards' Reserved List names Ancestral Recall from Limited Edition, so any discussion of supply should distinguish the original tournament-legal printings from later digital, oversized, championship, or non-tournament products. That evidence supports a historical and identification claim, not a broad prediction about future buyers or prices. [1][2]
Identifying the exact version
AnalysisThe exact Ancestral Recall version changes the comp set. Alpha is a black-bordered card with no expansion symbol and the larger Alpha corner radius. Beta is also black-bordered but uses the standard Magic corner cut. Unlimited is white-bordered. The card was also represented in Collectors' Edition, International Collectors' Edition, Magic Online, Vintage Masters, championship-related printings, and 30th Anniversary products. Those may share the name or art lineage, but they are not Alpha comps. For slabs, keep BGS 9, BGS 9.5, CGC, PSA, raw, altered, and qualified copies separate. [1][2][3]
What moves the price between versions and grades
Verified factThe opened Heritage records show a narrow but useful comparison. A BGS Mint 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sold for $16,875 on July 7, 2023, and another BGS Mint 9 sold for $15,625 on April 11, 2024. A BGS Gem Mint 9.5 Alpha example sold for $36,000 on March 4, 2022 in Heritage archive results. These are auction observations, not a complete market model. Date, grade, grader, eye appeal, and venue all matter, and a price estimate should use a current set of opened sold pages rather than one spectacular number. [4][5][6]
Authenticity checks
AnalysisFor authenticity, compare the card to a stable Alpha Ancestral Recall reference and to known authentic Alpha print traits. Use several checks: black border, no expansion symbol, Alpha corner radius, correct text and mana cost, surface, edges, card back, and print pattern. Slabbed copies should have cert details, holder images, and card images that match the listing. Do not perform destructive tests or rely on one shortcut. Copied cert numbers and convincing images can appear in the market, so high-value purchases need seller due diligence and, when unresolved, a physical expert review. [1][4]
Telling the versions apart
| Version | How to identify it |
|---|---|
| Limited Edition Alpha | Black border, no expansion symbol, original 1993 frame, catalog number 47, and the larger Alpha corner cut. |
| Limited Edition Beta | Black border and no expansion symbol, but with the standard Magic corner radius rather than Alpha's larger rounded corners. |
| Unlimited Edition | White border, no expansion symbol, and early 1993 core-set styling distinct from black-bordered Alpha and Beta. |
What people get wrong about this card
Based on the claims our guides decline to adopt: Risk and strategy · Case studies and corrections
Supply events
- May 4, 2016 · card reprintWizards' official Reprint Policy lists Ancestral Recall from Limited Edition as a Reserved Card and says Reserved Cards will not be printed again in functionally identical tournament-legal physical form. Source
“Reprint” can mean four different things; each affects a different pool of substitutes. Read more
Frequently asked questions
What is Alpha Ancestral Recall?
Is Ancestral Recall on the Reserved List?
How much did a BGS 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sell for in July 2023?
How much did a BGS 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sell for in April 2024?
How do I tell Alpha from Unlimited Ancestral Recall?
How many PSA 10 Alpha Ancestral Recall copies exist?
Sources
- Ancestral Recall - Limited Edition Alpha catalog page — mtg.wtf (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Official Reprint Policy — Wizards of the Coast (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Alpha Rare Authentication — MTG Information (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Heritage Auctions Lot 36001: Ancestral Recall Alpha BGS Mint 9 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Heritage Auctions archive results: April 11, 2024 Alpha Ancestral Recall BGS Mint 9 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Heritage Auctions archive results: Alpha Ancestral Recall BGS Gem Mint 9.5 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
- Heritage Auctions archive results: March 25, 2021 Alpha Ancestral Recall BGS 9 — Heritage Auctions (accessed Sep 26, 2026)
Not yet established
- No current PSA, BGS, or CGC population page with full grade counts and explicit as-of date was independently opened.
- Recent eBay or dealer sales were not included because no underlying sold listing page was opened.
- Heritage's BGS population statement is treated as of the lot date, but a live BGS population report was not opened.
Research: Codex research pass (live web) · automated source checks · independent cross-check · generated Sep 26, 2026 · awaiting editor review · updated Sep 26, 2026. Found an error? Report it.
