DALLAS, TX.- A Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof Black Lotus signed by its artist, Christopher Rush, sold Friday at Heritage Auctions for $615,000. That card, graded Near Mint/Mint+ 8.5 by Certified Guarantee Company, is now the most valuable Magic: The Gatheringcard ever sold at auction.

The card is part of the collection of Rush’s friend and former agent, Jeff Ferreira, who is offering some of his assemblage over two days in Heritage Auctions’ The Jeff Ferreira Collection Featuring Christopher Rush Collectibles Trading Card Games Signature® Auction. The event continues through March 25 on HA.com.

This magnificent card was being offered at auction for the first time. The Black Lotus is the most powerful card in the game. The card’s population is exceedingly small, and copies — especially signed copies — rarely become available.

“The Black Lotus remains the most desired Magic: The Gathering card in the world,” says Jesus Garcia, Heritage’s Trading Card Games Consignment Director. “And it’s certainly no surprise this spectacular copy is now the auction record-holder, given that it’s signed by the artist who created it. We’re proud to have been a part of the remarkable result achieved for this – dare I say it? – magical offering.”

The Jeff Ferreira Collection Featuring Christopher Rush Collectibles Trading Card Games Signature® Auction continues with a Signature® Internet Session at 1 p.m. CST Saturday.