Promotional Card of the Week — 1996 World Champion
1996 World Champion is a White/Blue/Black/Red/Green legendary creature card given as a reward to Tom Chanpheng, the winner of the 1996 World Championship. This card is, quite literally, unique: the only existing copy is set inside the 1996 World Championship’s trophy. All the other copies printed on the same sheet were destroyed in 1996 during a private ceremony. Thus, 1996 World Champion is one of two rarest Magic card in the world! (Yes, there is another one unique Magic card, Shichifukujin Dragon. I will talk about it on a future post.)
This card, obviously only printed in English, feature an artwork from Christopher Rush.
According to The Magic Librarities, only the wizard and the background of the artwork were actually painted by Christopher Rush. The spectral form of the champion was digitally added onto it later.
Regarding the trophy in which the 1996 World Champion card is encased, the same website state it is apparently made of lucite and is 25.2cm high, 8.5cm wide and 10.1cm deep. The card itself can be seen floating above a silver globe inside it.
According to both The Magic Librarities and GatheringMagic.com, Tom Chanpheng sold his trophy in 2001 for $17,000 (although, it’s worth to note that, one year later in 2002, Wizards of the Coast stated that the card was still owned by Chanpheng). Some days ago, the trophy was up for sale again on the website eBay, this time for $200.000. However, the 21st February 2017, the sale was taken down without any statement. Apparently, the current owner isn’t ready to sold it and didn’t except all the enthusiasm surrounding this offer.
As for the original painting, Sierra Troi Rush, Christopher Rush’s daughter, plan to auction it soon. Prints and playmats will be also made available later in the future.
