---
title: "Ancestral Recall (Limited Edition Alpha) price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/magic/alpha/ancestral-recall/
category: Magic: The Gathering
updated: 2026-09-28
as_of: 2026-11-11
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# Ancestral Recall (Limited Edition Alpha): price, verified sales and population

> 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.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 13 verified sales of the Ancestral Recall (Limited Edition Alpha) as of November 11, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $4,500 for a Limited Edition Beta CGC 5 on May 20, 2026 at Heritage Auctions.
- The highest verified sale on record is $36,000 for a Limited Edition Alpha BGS 9.5 on March 4, 2022 at Heritage Auctions.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 8.5 | — | 0 | $10,625 (2025-06-28) | $10,625 (2025-06-28) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 8 | — | 0 | $10,313 (2025-12-13) | $10,313 (2025-12-13) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9.5 | — | 0 | $36,000 (2022-03-04) | $36,000 (2022-03-04) | — |
| Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | — | 0 | $14,400 (2026-05-18) | $21,600 (2021-03-25) | 60 |
| Limited Edition Beta | PSA 2 | — | 0 | $5,789 (2024-10-27) | $5,789 (2024-10-27) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 8.5 | — | 0 | $6,250 (2025-09-20) | $6,250 (2025-09-20) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 8 | — | 0 | $5,500 (2025-12-13) | $5,500 (2025-12-13) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC 5 | — | 0 | $4,500 (2026-05-20) | $4,500 (2026-05-20) | — |
| Limited Edition Beta | CGC Gem Mint 10 | — | 0 | $10,625 (2026-03-28) | $10,625 (2026-03-28) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-20 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 5 | $4,500 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&auction_name=332620&auction_year=2026&dept=1938&ic4=OtherResults-SampleItem-AuctionNo-051517&mode=archive&sold_status=1526~1524) |
| 2026-05-18 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $14,400 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/a6b08d70-2359-4390-ae33-f9275dde4c40/1993-magic-the-gathering-mtg-alpha-ancestral-recall-bgs-9-mint) |
| 2026-03-28 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC Gem Mint 10 | $10,625 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=72~5&sb=1&si=1&sold_status=1526&term=Magic+The+Gathering) |
| 2025-12-13 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 8 | $5,500 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&auction_name=7431&auction_year=2025&dept=1938&layout=list&mode=archive&page=25~4&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) |
| 2025-12-13 | Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 8 | $10,313 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=72~5&sb=1&si=1&sold_status=1526&term=Magic+The+Gathering) |
| 2025-09-20 | Limited Edition Beta | CGC 8.5 | $6,250 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&auction_name=7424&auction_year=2025&dept=1938&layout=list&mode=archive&page=25~2&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) |
| 2025-06-28 | Limited Edition Alpha | CGC 8.5 | $10,625 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=72~5&sb=1&si=1&sold_status=1526&term=Magic+The+Gathering) |
| 2025-06-13 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $16,000 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/a6b08d70-2359-4390-ae33-f9275dde4c40/1993-magic-the-gathering-mtg-alpha-ancestral-recall-bgs-9-mint) |
| 2024-10-27 | Limited Edition Beta | PSA 2 | $5,789 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/non-sports-cards/1993-magic-gathering-beta/ancestral-recall/632150) |
| 2024-04-11 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $15,625 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&comic_category=2923&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=48~20&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) |
| 2023-07-07 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $16,875 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-ancestral-recall-limited-edition-alpha-edition-bgs-trading-card-game-mint-9-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7328-36001.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) |
| 2022-03-04 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9.5 | $36,000 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&comic_category=2923&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=48~8&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) |
| 2021-03-25 | Limited Edition Alpha | BGS 9 | $21,600 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&auction_name=40166&auction_year=2021&dept=1938&layout=list&mode=archive&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) |

## How to identify each version

- **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.

**Identity note:** No collector number is printed on Alpha cards. Scryfall catalogs this card as Alpha #47. The original Alpha card has no printed collector number. Modern cataloging commonly assigns Ancestral Recall number 47.

## Why this card matters

Ancestral 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.

## Identifying the exact version

The 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.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

The 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.

## Authenticity checks

For 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.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** BGS 9, BGS 9.5, PSA 9, and raw near mint Ancestral Recall can be averaged together. **What the evidence says:** The evidence supports separate comp buckets by grader, grade, and raw condition because grade and service are part of the object being sold.
- **Myth:** Alpha and Beta Ancestral Recall are basically the same because the card text is the same. **What the evidence says:** For collectors, the printing is part of identity. Alpha has the different corner cut and should not be merged with Beta.
- **Myth:** A Reserved List card is automatically liquid at any quoted price. **What the evidence says:** Liquidity requires observed transactions, bids, and current competition. The policy alone does not establish an executable sale.
- **Myth:** The population report gives the print run. **What the evidence says:** A population report is only a grading-company count in a category; it is not total production or surviving supply.

## FAQ

### What is Alpha Ancestral Recall?

Alpha Ancestral Recall is a rare Limited Edition Alpha instant by Mark Poole, cataloged as number 47 in modern databases.

### Is Ancestral Recall on the Reserved List?

Yes, Wizards lists Ancestral Recall from Limited Edition on the official Reserved List.

### How much did a BGS 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sell for in July 2023?

A BGS Mint 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sold for $16,875 at Heritage on July 7, 2023.

### How much did a BGS 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sell for in April 2024?

A BGS Mint 9 Alpha Ancestral Recall sold for $15,625 at Heritage on April 11, 2024.

### How do I tell Alpha from Unlimited Ancestral Recall?

Alpha is black-bordered with the larger Alpha corner cut, while Unlimited is white-bordered.

### How many PSA 10 Alpha Ancestral Recall copies exist?

Not established in the opened evidence; no current PSA population page with an explicit as-of date was opened for this card.

## Sources

1. [Ancestral Recall - Limited Edition Alpha catalog page](https://mtg.wtf/card/lea/47/Ancestral-Recall) (mtg.wtf)
2. [Official Reprint Policy](https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/official-reprint-policy) (Wizards of the Coast)
3. [Alpha Rare Authentication](https://www.mtginformation.com/alpha-rare-authentication) (MTG Information)
4. [Heritage Auctions Lot 36001: Ancestral Recall Alpha BGS Mint 9](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/magic-the-gathering-ancestral-recall-limited-edition-alpha-edition-bgs-trading-card-game-mint-9-wizards-of-the-coast-1993-rare/a/7328-36001.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515) (Heritage Auctions)
5. [Heritage Auctions archive results: April 11, 2024 Alpha Ancestral Recall BGS Mint 9](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&comic_category=2923&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=48~20&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) (Heritage Auctions)
6. [Heritage Auctions archive results: Alpha Ancestral Recall BGS Gem Mint 9.5](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&comic_category=2923&dept=1938&layout=gallery&mode=archive&page=48~8&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) (Heritage Auctions)
7. [Heritage Auctions archive results: March 25, 2021 Alpha Ancestral Recall BGS 9](https://comics.ha.com/c/search/results.zx?archive_state=5327&auction_name=40166&auction_year=2021&dept=1938&layout=list&mode=archive&sb=1&si=2&sold_status=1526~1524) (Heritage Auctions)

## How to cite

> Ancestral Recall (Limited Edition Alpha). CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/magic/alpha/ancestral-recall/ (accessed 2026-11-11).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/magic--alpha--ancestral-recall.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/