Ancestral Recall [Alpha Pop 39]

Grading

Overall       9.5 GEM MINT

Centering  10

Corners      9

Edges           9.5

Surface       10

Reference this fantastic alpha population report table from Joel Mick. 

Rarity & Collectability

Ancestral Recall is a relatively easy card to find graded in BGS 9.5 Gem Mint with 39 total copies in existence in addition to 2 copies of BGS 10 Pristine.  This particular example is considered a BGS 9.5b++ which denotes that it is a basic 9.5 due to the single 9 corner grade, but with two ten subgrades for surface and centering.

The 9 subgrade for corners on alpha cards is quite common due to the large radii cut often leading to slight whitening of the corners, even for exceptionally clean cards like this one.  

Impressions & Artwork

I really appreciate the name of this card and wonder how it came to mind when thinking about what to name a card that grants a boon of 3 cards.  Evan Symon of magicuntapped.com confirmed the card was originally to be name “Ancestrall Memories” and printed at the common slot. I’m glad that name didn’t stick. 

The painting by Mark Poole depicts a man from an older civilization having a connection to someone in the future by granting them instant power and clarity of mind.  

The name of this card is so special, and suggests that we are all linked to our ancestors in some way.  Certainly by the way we all look, but also with subtleties that we may not even notice in our daily lives.  Perhaps we enjoy specific foods or drinks because of our shared history.  This card reminds me that we are all linked together.

Usage & Gameplay

I think that one could make an argument that Ancestral Recall is actually the strongest card ever printed in the game.  In the game of Magic, card draw is equivalent to power advantage and is a huge leg up on any opponent that is drawing fewer cards.  To draw 3 additional cards for the price of 1 card and 1 blue mana is absolutely absurd.  

Take a look at another popular card draw spell, Braingeyser.  This card was also printed in the same alpha edition at the rare slot.  To draw 3 cards with Braingeyser would cost 5 total mana at Sorcery speed (which means you can only cast it on your own turn).  Compare this with Ancestral Recall which allows you to draw 3 cards with 1 blue mana at instant speed (which means you can also cast it on your opponents turn).  Ancestral Recall also allows you to force your opponent to draw 3 cards, which is certainly a niche use case, but allows you to "mill" their deck in rare situations where you try to win the game by forcing the opponent to run out of cards to draw from their library. 

Nostalgia

Check out one of my favorite cards I kept from the mid 90's.  Although it isn't an Ancestral Recall, it was signed by both Mark Poole (the artist of Ancestral Recall) and Dan Frazier (the artist of all of the original Moxen) so thought it was worth sharing.  I altered a Sol Ring (an extremely powerful card that is still relevant today with EDH) with an image we cut out from a magazine that I think was concept art for the Mox Diamond?  My good friend Carlton then got it signed at a convention by both legendary artists!  So cool.

I don't remember which magazine it was from, but I'm guessing it was from Scrye but perhaps someone else can confirm it?