Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell [1st Edition] #IOC-049

Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell [1st Edition] #IOC-049 collector guide

About Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell

Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell is a Counter Trap Card, printed as IOC-049 in Invasion of Chaos (2004) as a Common. Invasion of Chaos, released in 2004, brought Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning, Chaos Emperor Dragon - Envoy of the End and Dark Magician of Chaos. The Envoys went on to dominate competitive play, which makes it one of the most important sets of the early game. Ungraded, this printing ranks 135th of the 224 Invasion of Chaos cards we track. The top card is Black Luster Soldier - Envoy of the Beginning at €143.91.

Character and collecting appeal

In play, it is a card for negating cards and effects, destroying cards and discarding.

Version and identification

This guide covers the 1st Edition printing. The words "1st Edition" are printed below the artwork on the left; copies without them are the Unlimited printing and usually sell for less. Check the code printed below the artwork on the right: it should read IOC-049. The code IOC-049, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as IOC-E049, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Invasion of Chaos has one other printing of Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell: IOC-049 (€0.27). Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly. It was also printed in Quarter Century Bonanza, which we track separately.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €0.53, a PSA 9 for €6.24 and a PSA 10 for €55.48. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 76%, and down 20% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €3.66 in June 2023, 86% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 52% over the same 12 months. Of the 9 printings of Cursed Seal of the Forbidden Spell we track, this one ranks 5th by ungraded value. The most valuable is Quarter Century Bonanza RA03-EN076 Platinum Secret Rare at €2.03. 1st Edition copies sell for about 2× the Unlimited printing (€0.53 against €0.27).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 104.7× the ungraded price and 8.9× a PSA 9. That gap is small, so grading fees may outweigh the gain unless the card is for your own collection. On cards from the early 2000s, the dark brown backs show every scuff and white edge, so top grades are scarce.

Investment potential

In its favour: a price well below its June 2023 peak, which some collectors see as room to recover; it comes from the 1st Edition run of an early English set, which will never be printed again; it is the original printing, which reprints rarely replace for collectors; an active market (25 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 76% in a year. Past prices do not guarantee future ones. This is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.53 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €6.24. Ask the seller to show the code IOC-049, the "1st Edition" text and the Common finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. Cards from 2004 often show white wear on the back edges and corners, so ask for photos of the back before you buy.

Card details and image from YGOPRODeck. Yu-Gi-Oh! is a trademark of Konami; Search Cards is not affiliated with Konami.