Alpha vs Beta

Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.misc (More info?)

news.telkomsa.net <news@telkomsa.net> sent:
> Hello,

> How would one be adble to see the difference between the different sts of
> cards?

> For example, how would I be able to determine between 2 cards, which is from
> Alpha and whih is from Beta, and the same for 4th and 5th.
> Obviously, the new cards have expansion symbols, so they are not a problem,
> I only have a problem with the older cards.

I found this site which might be useful for you:

http://home.mweb.co.za/pr/pringled [...] cards.html

Once you've seen a few examples of each kind, it's pretty easy to tell
them apart. Quick summary:

Alpha: black border, big round corners
Beta: black border, normal corners
Unlimited: white border, normal corners
Revised: white border, normal corners, thick black outlines instead of
bevels
Fourth: white border, normal corners, date 1995
Fifth: white border, normal corners, date 1997

--
-- zoe

Archived from groups: rec.games.trading-cards.magic.misc (More info?)

Dave <im@not.telling> wrote:
>The spoiler on mtgnews.com has pictures of most cards, from all the
>different sets. I've used this in the past to determine which set
>a particular reprint was from.

I believe ... yes, Gatherer appears to also. (Judging from a test using Stream
of Life.) It's not easy to see the bevel-outline that's the main difference
between Unlimited and Revised on it, though.

>Also, I believe Alpha cards had square corners, while cards from all
>other sets were rounded.

No no. Collector's Edition (and International C.E.) cards had square corners,
and have never ever been tournament-legal. Alpha cards had much -rounder-
corners than any other edition; Beta and up and all the expansions have had
the same narrow corner-roundness. It's unmistakable once you've seen it in
real life comparisons, as is the bevelled-border difference (between the
main printed area and the white edge of the card) for UL/RV.

Dave
--
\/David DeLaney posting from dbd@vic.com "It's not the pot that grows the flower
It's not the clock that slows the hour The definition's plain for anyone to see
Love is all it takes to make a family" - R&P. VISUALIZE HAPPYNET VRbeable<BLINK>
http://www.vic.com/~dbd/ - net.legends FAQ & Magic / I WUV you in all CAPS! --K.