I recently purchased an Unlimited Black Lotus from an online card shop. I received it and the color was a little darker than other Unlimited artifacts I own. Also, the text on the card title seems darker than usual, almost blending with the rest of the card:

[IMG]http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t521/marcioljunior/8619_zps194fed48.jpeg[/IMG]

Here is a high quality scan of the card. I guess the card seems even darker by looking at it, than on this scan.

So, what do you think? Is it real? Is it a counterfeit?

Thanks in advance.

Have you tried:
Light test
Jewelers lope to see the printing clusters vs a known UL card?

If it passes those 2 tests you can reasonably conclude it's real.

__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

Thanks,
Jazaray

__________________
A Plastered Dragon Original Limerick:
There was a nice lassie named Jaz
Many wished to have what she has,
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quote:

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Originally posted by Jazaray:
And stop using photobucket. It SUCKS for pictures.

Thanks,
Jazaray

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Uploaded another version:

http://www.imageshack.com/i/0xx9zgj

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Originally posted by Marcio Jr:
Uploaded another version:

http://www.imageshack.com/i/0xx9zgj

I've done the light test. It seems to pass a little less light than the Unlimited Time Vault I have, but light passes.
What should I look for wuth the jeweler's loupe?

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Originally posted by JayC:
You're looking at the printing / pixels, is it the same as other legit cards, or not?

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Originally posted by Scared of Nature:
dark beta was mtg cards printed by carta mundi employees after hours was it not? i dont see how checking the printing pattern would determine if its fake or not.

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1. Who says the bend test doesn't work? It does. I had a beta mox Ruby and I'd demonstrate all the time. A real magic card bends just fine and goes back just as it was..

2. I wasn't aware there were fake unlimited cards. I'd imagine they'd be hard to come by.

3. I have seen darker beta and unlimited and never questioned them as dark beta (never heard of that till now honestly). I just thought it was from new print stock or something.

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Originally posted by Dancam1:
I am confused.

1. Who says the bend test doesn't work? It does. I had a beta mox Ruby and I'd demonstrate all the time. A real magic card bends just fine and goes back just as it was..

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I'd recommend not doing this any more to your Beta Mox, most MTG cards will fail after 12-20 bends and will crease like a rebacked card and your Ex mox goes directly to damaged, doesn't pass go and you collect -$500.

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Originally posted by KIP_NZ:
I'd recommend not doing this any more to your Beta Mox, most MTG cards will fail after 12-20 bends and will crease like a rebacked card and your Ex mox goes directly to damaged, doesn't pass go and you collect -$500.

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yea. STOP. BENDING. CARDS.

__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

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Originally posted by thror:
yea. STOP. BENDING. CARDS.

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__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

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Originally posted by thror:
Have you seen what happens when people riffle shuffle their cards? you are doing the same thing. even if you cant see it now, you are damaging the card stock. sooner or later, this damage will become visible. STOP.

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Originally posted by Dancam1:
I really don't see how this is true. Again, I folded that card so many times. Well over 50. You do know that you don't put a crease in the card, right? You just fold it so the edges touch. I should try it with a basic land today and see what happens.

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and again, have you seen what happens when people riffle shuffle? they dont crease the card, and yet THIS http://sales.starcitygames.com/images/card_conditions/MP-1.jpg happens all the time. minor bending (or in the case of a bend test, MAJOR bending) causes damage.

__________________
"He fights you not because you have wronged him, but because you are there."

quote:

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Originally posted by thror:
and again, have you seen what happens when people riffle shuffle? they dont crease the card, and yet THIS http://sales.starcitygames.com/images/card_conditions/MP-1.jpg happens all the time. minor bending (or in the case of a bend test, MAJOR bending) causes damage.

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Wow, someone is doing it wrong. But, truthfully, I'd never play with the power 9 unless they were beat up. I don't know what happened to that card, but, I can safely say that never happened to my card...

And rifle shuffling is not at all like the bend test. In the bend test, you just curl the card lengthwise until the tips touch.