The Portrait's Secret [1st Edition] #LON-052

The Portrait's Secret [1st Edition] #LON-052 collector guide

About The Portrait's Secret

The Portrait's Secret is a Normal Monster, with flavour text instead of an effect, printed as LON-052 in Labyrinth of Nightmare (2003) as a Common. It is a Level 4 EARTH Fiend monster with 1,200 ATK and 1,500 DEF. 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 291st of the 331 Labyrinth of Nightmare cards we track. The top card is Torrential Tribute at €92.89.

Character and collecting appeal

Fiends are one of the largest Types in the game, home to many of its darker and more unusual designs. With no effect, its appeal is its artwork, its stats and its place in Labyrinth of Nightmare.

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-052. The code LON-052, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as LON-E052, and are priced separately. It is the Common version. Commons have a plain name and no foil. Labyrinth of Nightmare has 4 other printings of The Portrait's Secret: LON-052 (€0.22), LON-E052, LON-E052 1st Edition (€3.10) and LON-EN052. Each has its own price, so match the code, edition and rarity exactly.

Price history

Today an ungraded copy of this printing sells for about €0.31, a PSA 9 for €5.35 and a PSA 10 for €41.66. Our monthly prices for it go back to October 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are down 81%, and down 31% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €2.67 in December 2022, 88% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved down 59% over the same 12 months. Of the 3 printings of The Portrait's Secret we track, this one ranks 2nd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Labyrinth of Nightmare LON-E052 1st Edition at €3.10. 1st Edition copies sell for about 1.4× the Unlimited printing (€0.31 against €0.22).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 134.4× the ungraded price and 7.8× 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 December 2022 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; an active market (25 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Against it: falling prices, down 81% in a year. Treat this as background, not a prediction or financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €0.31 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €5.35. Ask the seller to show the code LON-052, the "1st Edition" text and the Common 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.