CGC Featured Card of the Month: Birds of Paradise

Game: Magic: The Gathering

Set: Limited Edition Alpha through Eighth Edition, Others

Card: Birds of Paradise

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What makes it special? Birds of Paradise is an extremely popular card. It was one of the earliest Magic: The Gathering cards, having been introduced in the first MTG set: Limited Edition Alpha. However, unlike other cards, Birds of Paradise went on to be reprinted in dozens of subsequent sets, including Limited Edition Beta through Eighth Edition, Ravnica: City of Guilds, Tenth Edition, Magic 2010 to Magic 2012 and at least seven more after that, with the last set it was featured in being Bloomburrow (2024). That means that Birds of Paradise has been consistently printed in MTG sets for more than 30 years!

Did you know? Birds of Paradise is a 0/1 Flying creature. On its own, that’s not a lot to boast about. However, it’s secondary ability allows the player to tap Birds of Paradise at any time and use it as an extra mana of any color. This is where Birds of Paradise’s true strength lies.

Total graded by CGC Cards: According to the CGC Cards Population Report, CGC Cards has certified 396 English examples of Birds of Paradise across all sets, including 36 from Limited Edition Alpha.

CGC Cards median grade: CGC 8 (Limited Edition Alpha)

CGC Cards highest grade: CGC Gem Mint 10 (Limited Edition Alpha)

Sales highlights: A Birds of Paradise, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Limited Edition Alpha graded CGC 8.5 realized $3,240 through Fanatics Collect in August 2024. Additionally, a Birds of Paradise, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Unlimited Edition graded CGC Gem Mint 10 realized $1,830 in the same sale.

CGC Cards Registry: An example of Birds of Paradise graded CGC Gem Mint 10 is included in Adam Cai’s Pristine Collectibles – MTG Alpha Set, which is the highest-ranking Limited Edition Alpha – Master Set in the CGC Registry. There are also examples of Birds of Paradise in the second-, third- and fourth-place Limited Edition Alpha – Master Sets in the CGC Registry.

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