A Magic: The Gathering/Pokmontest print uncut sheet with notes (Wizards of the Coast)that was part of the sales pitch to extend the Pokmongames reach from Japan into the Western world sold for $375,000 to lead Heritages May 17 and 18Trading Card Games SignatureAuctionto a total gross of $1,747,323. The final price, reached after 34 bids poured in, established a new world record for an uncut sheet of cards from a trading card game. The auctions top lot is hugely significant in trading card games history because it not only helped the growth of the Pokmongame, but also features cards from the two most popular trading card games in the world, Pokmonand Magic: The Gathering. Uncut sheets from either game are coveted by collectors, but to have both games on the same sheet is incredibly rare. In addition, it is the only sheet known that represents a Pokmon card with a black border. This record price is fitting for such an important piece of trading card game history, said Jesus Garcia, consignment director of Trading Card Games at Heritage Auctions. It smashed the previous mark of $250,000 that was paid at Heritage last year for a Pokmonunlimited base set test print uncut sheet. The market for trading card games remains remarkably strong, and the results in this auction reflected that, continued Garcia. A Pokmonfirst edition base set sealed booster boxalso was in high demand, pulling in 24 bids before closing at $237,500.Released in January 1999, the set included 102 cards, including the popular Charizard. Because of the low print run, booster sets like this one that are scarce and rarely reach the open market. A PokmonCharmander unnumbered promo 64 Mario Stadium best photo contest (CGC Trading Card Game Mint 9) from 1999, featuring an image by Tsukasa Hosono, brought in a winning bid of $75,000.Contestants competed to take the best photos they could for the N64 classic, titled Pokmon Snap, with the top five photos printed on reprint cards from the Japanese PokmonTCG expansion pack. Another card featuring an image from a Pokmon tournament, a Pokmon Squirtle unnumbered promo 64 Mario Stadium best photo contest (CGC Trading Card Game Mint 9)from 1999, ended at $68,750. The same amount was paid for a Magic: The Gatheringlimited edition (Alpha) sealed starter deckthat was the first set released for the game. One of the most popular cards from any game, a Magic: The GatheringBlack Lotus limited edition (Alpha) (BGS Trading Card Game EX-MT 6) (Wizards of the Coast, 1993) realized $50,000. The most sought-after trading card in existence, this card from the Alpha Edition is part of the most powerful group of cards in the entire game, known as the Power Nine. BGS has certified 10 copies earning an EX-MT 6 grade with 250 graded higher. Other highlights were a Magic: The GatheringLegends edition sealed booster box selling for $30,000. Complete results can be found at www.HA.com/7371.