The English Base Set of Magic: The Gathering, also known as Alpha and Beta combined, had a total of two primary print runs: the Alpha print run and the Beta print run. These two print runs together constitute the original English Base Set releases.
The **Alpha print run** was the very first printing of Magic cards, released in 1993. It consisted of approximately 2.6 million cards, but the exact number of individual cards printed is estimated to be around 1 million cards total, distributed in booster packs, starter decks, and tournament decks. Alpha cards are distinguishable by their slightly rounded corners and are the rarest and most valuable due to the limited quantity and their status as the first-ever Magic cards.
Following Alpha, the **Beta print run** was released shortly after, also in 1993, with a much larger print run estimated at around 7.3 million cards. Beta cards corrected some of the Alpha printing errors and had sharper corners. The Beta print run was intended to meet the growing demand for Magic cards after the initial success of Alpha.
Together, these two print runs—Alpha and Beta—make up the English Base Set printings. There was no separate third print run of the Base Set in English; the next major reprint was the Unlimited Edition, which had a white border and is considered a separate set from the Base Set.
To summarize:
– **Alpha print run:** Approximately 1 million cards, first print run, very limited and rare.
– **Beta print run:** Approximately 7.3 million cards, second print run, corrected errors from Alpha.
– **No third print run of the English Base Set**; subsequent reprints were under different editions (Unlimited, Revised, etc.).
This information is well-documented in Magic: The Gathering collector and historian sources, as well as by Wizards of the Coast’s official history of the game. The distinction between Alpha and Beta print runs is fundamental to understanding the Base Set’s print history and the rarity and value of these cards in the collector market.
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