Mox Sapphire [Alpha PSA Pop 18]

Grading

Overall       PSA 9 MINT

      

This particular copy is graded a PSA 9 Mint.  It looks like a pack fresh card with very nice centering, but has some gentle corner whitening from the cutting process.   

Rarity & Collectability

The alpha Mox Sapphire is extremely difficult to find in high grade, with only 3 graded a BGS 9.5, and none graded PSA 10.  There are 18 copies graded PSA 9, and 40 copies graded a BGS 9.  This is because of a print surface issue common on the vast majority of the cards.  This particular copy is of no exception and the flaw is highlighted below on the bottom right of the card.  Dan at Vintage Magic mentioned that he had once sold a copy that did not have this print flaw for an enormous sum. 

Impressions & Artwork

The Mox Sapphire is very iconic and readily identifiable.  The deep blue gemstone is painted with clean cut lines separating the light and dark colored sections.  Perhaps the most elusive of them all, it was extremely rare to come across anyone that owned a copy of this card, even in the mid 90's.

Usage & Gameplay

If the Mox Jet is the King, then the Mox Sapphire is the Queen of the Moxen.  Playing blue is thoughtful, blue is strategic and playing blue was OP.  It powered the most overpowered color in Magic both then and now.  Absolutely broken Alpha 40 decks like this one used multiple copies.  

To me, the Mox Sapphire was synonymous with the Power 9 cards because 3 of the 9 were blue spells.  For example, the blue boon card Ancestral Recall.  Also worth mentioning was the turn 2 Serendib Efreet which already cheating the mana curve with a 3/4 flying creature for 3 mana.