Toon Mermaid [1st Edition] #MRL-072

Toon Mermaid [1st Edition] #MRL-072 collector guide

About Toon Mermaid

Toon Mermaid is a Toon monster, which needs Toon World on the field, printed as MRL-072 in Magic Ruler (2002) as an Ultra Rare. It is a Level 4 WATER Aqua monster with 1,400 ATK and 1,500 DEF. Magic Ruler was the third English booster set and brought Pegasus's Toon cards into the game. Magic Cards were later renamed Spell Cards and the set was reprinted as Spell Ruler, so Magic Ruler copies are the original printing. Ungraded, this printing ranks 17th of the 321 Magic Ruler cards we track. The top card is Blue-Eyes Toon Dragon at €223.11.

Character and collecting appeal

It is one of the Toon monsters, the cartoon versions of famous cards that Pegasus J. Crawford plays in Duelist Kingdom. Its text is about Special Summoning, destroying cards and stopping attacks. It cannot be Normal Summoned, so it has to be brought out by its own conditions. Its text names Toon World, so collectors often look for them together.

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 MRL-072. The code MRL-072, without a language letter, marks the original North American printing. European English copies have an E in the code, such as MRL-E072, and are priced separately. It is the Ultra Rare version. Ultra Rares have a gold-foil name and holographic artwork. Magic Ruler has 5 other printings of Toon Mermaid: MRL-072 (€8.28), MRL-072 Misprint (€162.87), MRL-E072 (€22.89), MRL-E072 1st Edition (€46.02) and MRL-E072 Misprint. 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 €32.77, a PSA 9 for €167.76 and a PSA 10 for €759.70. Our monthly prices for it go back to September 2021. Over the last 12 months ungraded copies are up 49%, and up 2% in the last month. Its highest monthly ungraded value was €59.00 in February 2022, 44% above today. PSA 10 copies have moved up 139% over the same 12 months. Of the 5 printings of Toon Mermaid we track, this one ranks 3rd by ungraded value. The most valuable is Magic Ruler MRL-072 Misprint at €162.87. 1st Edition copies sell for about 4× the Unlimited printing (€32.77 against €8.28).

Grading and population

A PSA 10 sells for 23.2× the ungraded price and 4.5× 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 49% in a year; a price well below its February 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 (130 recent completed sales), so it is easy to sell. Card prices can fall as well as rise, so this is not financial advice.

Before you buy

Expect to pay around €32.77 for a clean ungraded copy; played copies sell for less, and a PSA 9 costs about €167.76. Ask the seller to show the code MRL-072, the "1st Edition" text and the Ultra Rare finish clearly in the photos, as listing titles often mix up printings. At this price fakes are worth checking for: genuine cards have a small holographic seal (the Eye of Anubis) in the bottom-right corner, and the font, colours and card back should match a copy you know is genuine. Look up the certificate number of any graded copy on the grading company's website. Cards from 2002 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.