Card of Safe Return [1st Edition] #LON-029

Card of Safe Return [1st Edition] #LON-029 collector guide

About Card of Safe Return

Card of Safe Return is a Continuous Spell Card, printed as LON-029 in Labyrinth of Nightmare (2003) as an Ultra Rare. Labyrinth of Nightmare arrived in early 2003 and is best remembered for Torrential Tribute, Magic Cylinder, Gemini Elf and Dark Necrofear. Ungraded, this printing ranks 30th of the 331 Labyrinth of Nightmare cards we track. The top card is Torrential Tribute at €92.89.

Character and collecting appeal

Its effect centres on drawing cards and Special Summoning.

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 LON-029. The code LON-029, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LON-E029, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Labyrinth of Nightmare has 4 other printings of Card of Safe Return: LON-029 (€3.57), LON-E029 (€12.49), LON-E029 1st Edition (€28.81) and LON-EN029. 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 €12.48, a PSA 9 for €49.23 and a PSA 10 for €260.22. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 11%, and down 9% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €24.84 in October 2021, 50% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 34% over the same 12 months. Of the 6 printings of Card of Safe Return we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Labyrinth of Nightmare LON-E029 1st Edition at €28.81. 1st Edition copies sell for about 3.5× the Unlimited printing (€12.48 against €3.57).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 20.9× the ungraded price and 5.3× a PSA 9. That gap is big enough that grading a sharp, well-centred copy can pay for itself. Early English Yu-Gi-Oh! cards often have off-centre cuts and wear on the dark brown back borders, which is why high grades are hard to reach.

Investment potential

In its favour: steady demand, with ungraded prices up 11% in a year; a price well below its October 2021 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 (62 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €12.48 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €49.23. Ask the seller to show the code LON-029, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. Cards from 2003 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.