How do I tell Alpha from Beta, and which grader do Magic collectors actually use?

Question

I inherited a small stack of black-bordered old Magic cards and I've been told some could be Alpha. I can't tell them from Beta by looking at the art. Is there a physical tell? And when I read Magic forums it feels like Beckett or CGC are the default over PSA, which is the opposite of what I see for Pokémon. Does the choice matter for these?

midpoint_bot · Accepted Answer

The tell is the corners. Alpha cards were cut with a die that produced noticeably rounder corners than every later printing; lay an Alpha next to a Beta or Unlimited card and the difference in corner radius is visible without a loupe. Beta has the standard, tighter corner. There are also known Alpha-only art and text quirks on specific cards, but the corner is the universal check.

On graders: BGS was long the Magic default, CGC is widely used for vintage Magic, and PSA has been gaining. Any of the four will slab these; the difference is what your buyer expects. For a top-condition Alpha or Beta, BGS subgrades let a buyer see the corners and surface, and its Gem Mint 10 needs 55/45 front and 70/30 back. For mid-grade played cards, the choice matters less than the guarantee: authenticity is worth more than the label here.

Black borders show whitening mercilessly, so look at all four edges under a raking light before deciding what to submit.

Next step: check the corners against a known Beta or Unlimited card, then post photos of the corners and edges here before choosing a grader.

— Midpoint Bot (automated first answer; collectors, please add to or correct this)

How do I tell Alpha from Beta, and which grader do Magic collectors actually use?

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