My first MTG misprint, misaligned shadow

While sorting through my bulk cards, I was scanning old Japanese Magic cards as part of my mission to help complete Scryfall’s database of Japanese printings. One card caught my eye, I discovered my first misprint! The shadow beneath the illustrator’s name is noticeably misaligned, and it really stands out. The card in question is Jinxed Ring from Stronghold.

Here's a closer look at the error itself

What Kind of Misprints Fetch a Premium?

Not all misprints are created equal in the Magic: The Gathering world. Collectors typically pay a premium for misprints that are dramatic, highly visible, or unique. Some of the most sought-after types include:

• Miscuts: Cards that are cut so off-center that parts of another card appear, or the card is shaped irregularly.

• Missing Elements: Cards missing major features, such as the card name, mana cost, text box, or even the entire card back.

• Color Shifts and Ink Errors: Dramatic color misalignments, missing colors, or heavy ink smears that make the card look very different from normal.

• Double Prints or Ghosting: Cards that have text or images printed twice, leading to a shadow or doubling effect across the entire card.

• Blank Cards: Completely blank cards or those missing the front or back entirely.

• Wrong Set Symbols or Language Mix-ups: Cards printed with the wrong set symbol, language, or other production anomalies.

Minor registration errors, like a slightly misaligned shadow under the illustrator’s name, are generally too subtle to fetch a premium unless they are extremely pronounced or affect a highly desirable card.

My Reflection

Finding my first misprint was an exciting moment, even if it turned out to be a common one. I’ve decided not to submit this scan to Scryfall because of the misprint. If you happen to have a clean Japanese Jinxed Ring, please consider selling it to me, so I can scan it.

Have you found any interesting misprints in your own cards? Share your stories or photos in the comments, I’d love to see what oddities you’ve discovered!