Fan of the Month – August: A Magic: The Gathering Collection Like No Other
Posted by Magic Madhouse on 13th Aug 2025
My collection is basically just everything I've collected over the years of playing Magic: The Gathering including, sealed packs, boxes, thousands of cards, books, figures etc! The main focus of my collection though has to be the sealed booster collection I have. I've tried to collect every single sealed booster released!
Unfortunately I don't have everything, there are lot of weird and wonderful rare packs out there, but I do have a pack of every set, including collector packs, promo packs etc (up until the universes beyond deluge at least where i've sort of stopped) except for Alpha, Beta, unlimited and arabian nights which are just a little bit out of my range sadly.
My collection is basically just everything I've collected over the years of playing Magic: The Gathering including, sealed packs, boxes, thousands of cards, books, figures etc! The main focus of my collection though has to be the sealed booster collection I have. I've tried to collect every single sealed booster released!
Unfortunately I don't have everything, there are lot of weird and wonderful rare packs out there, but I do have a pack of every set, including collector packs, promo packs etc (up until the universes beyond deluge at least where i've sort of stopped) except for Alpha, Beta, unlimited and arabian nights which are just a little bit out of my range sadly.
Q: When did you start collecting and do you remember your very first big hit card or big ticket item? What was it?
A: I originally started playing Magic around the time 5th edition was out. Value wasn't really something I paid attention to back then though but I did hit a few Rhystic Studies which I still have! I don't think much I pulled back then had much value and still doesn't now haha. I've never gotten rid of a single card I've acquired though, so I still have everything I had from back then.
I didn't play for too long at that point though but got interested in Magic again around the time Scars of Mirridon was out. This is when I started to see people opening packs on Youtube and this is what got me back into cracking packs and eventually starting my own Youtube channel, MagicTheGatheringUK! I eventually started to play again a little bit later with Shadows Over Innistrad. I'd say my first real interesting hit came during New Phyrexia when the box I opened had 3 Karn Liberated's (including 1 foil!) which at the time was highly sort after. If I remember right, it may also have had a foil Mental Misstep so it was a pretty crazy box! The opening can be seen on my youtube channel.
Q: What’s your absolute favourite card/ item in your collection and why does it mean so much to you?
A: It would probably have to be my Japanese Sliver Queen. While I have only had it a few years at this point, the original Sliver Queen is probably what got me interested in Magic in the first place. Around the time of Stronghold being out, that's when my older brother was playing and it was seeing him pick up cards and playing slivers that got me interested in the game.
He also played Lotus Petal which I always thought looked awesome and now finally all those years later, I have a playset of Japanese Lotus Petal to go with the Queen (I really like Japanese cards). So all this collecting is my brother's fault really! haha.
Q: What’s the crown jewel of your collection, the rarest or most valuable card you own?
A: The most expensive single card I have is a Masterpiece Mox Opal I pulled from a prerelease kit. definitely the most insane thing I've pulled so far! This was also recorded and put on my Youtube if anyone wants to see it happen! Another really rare card I opened was from when I was at one of the UK GP's back when they were a thing.
It was the end of the day and we noticed a seller with some Russian Khans of Tarkir packs at a good price so I decided to try my luck and grab one. To my Surprise, I opened a foil Russian Polluted Delta! At the time I think it was rather pricey indeed but I don't think it is these days after all the reprints etc. Still an awesome, hard to get pull! In terms of rarity, I believe this rather unassuming 4th edition starter pack is the rarest thing I own. That's because it's not a regular 4th edition starter pack, this is actually a sealed alternative 4th edition starter.
Not too many people know about this and there's a long story to its history but to put it briefly, Wizards were in talks with The American Playing Card Company to potentially start producing Magic cards. They produced a test print of the starter decks but during that time the relationship with Wizards broke down and it was ordered that all printed starters be destroyed. However some still got out and this is one of those decks! it's hard to know how many exist but it's a very rare oddity of Magic's history.
Q: How do you store or display your collection, are you more binder-organised or shoebox chaos?
A: I'm very meticulous when it comes to organising my cards. All my singles are organised by set, rarity and then alphabetised and stored in long boxes labelled with the set. All my loose boosters are stored in boxes again, all labelled with exactly what it is. It makes finding things very easy!
Q: Do you play Magic: the Gathering, collect only, or dabble in both? If you do play, what has been your favourite deck of all time?
A: I do play Magic, a lot less these days than I used to though. Now I just play sealed and draft but I used to play standard, modern etc too. My favourite deck is my trusty Bogles modern deck! sadly not too good these days since they printed Modern Horizons and ruined the format though haha. I also really loved my Electrostatic Pummeler energy deck back in Kaladesh standard that I actually won a game day with! Some fun plays with Harnessed Lightning targeting my own creature for 0 just to gain the energy to then use it to save my Bristling Hydra from a removal spell or such. That won me some games!
Q: Do you have a favourite Magic: the Gathering Set that you own and why?
A: I've never actually collected a whole set to completion but my favourite set is probably New Phyrexia. I just have a lot of fun memories opening that set and loving the aesthetic. It's a shame they killed off the Mirrodin :(.
Q: Are there any cards/ items you're currently chasing or a dream grail card/ item on your wishlist?
A: I think it has to be the missing booster packs from my collection from the early days of Magic, Alpha, Beta, Unlimited, Arabian Nights. Unfortunately that is pretty much impossible with the prices they fetch but maybe one day I'll be able to finally fill those gaps.
Q: If you were made into a Magic: The Gathering Card, what would your card look like and which keywords would you have?
A: That's a tough question! I really like slivers so maybe some kind of silver artifact with a strange alternate wincon such as "if your slivers have more than 10 different abilities you win the game" or something weird like that as I love janky cards!
Q: Do you have any card storage hacks, tips, or advice for fellow collectors?
A: Nothing really that isn't obvious. Take the time to organise all your cards by set and alphabetical order and label the boxes you store them in clearly. You'll be able to find any card you need with ease! the way I protect my booster packs is to use Tarrot card sleeves and then just sealable 'One Touch' bags from Ultra Pro. I'm sure there's better ways but it does the job for me.
Q: Do you share your collection online? If so, where can people follow you and what’s your handle?
A: Yes I do! I have a YouTube channel at MagicTheGatheringUK where I have all my openings, and I also have an Instagram account at MagicTheGatheringUK, also for random collection stuff! Always happy to answer questions or show anything specific if anyone wants to see something.
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