I've been asked by multiple people recently if SNK's classic art were really only limited to 100 each. Apparently I didn't mention this before now, probably because production #s were to be kept confidential (at least with cartridge runs), but I think it does more good than harm to disclose the classic artworks #s. Example, this recent listing of
MS4 classic mentions, "The
classic edition art packs (insert + cartridge sticker) were produced by SNK and limited to 100 each."
Q: I'm still wondering whether there were really 100 per set. Because since I started the collection in 2016 I often see games with the classic insert, I even regularly see sales of classic inserts alone on various sites like eBay. And I wonder because an offset production cannot be limited to 100 copies.
My response...
MTG artist proofs are limited to 50 prints for non foil and 30 for foil. Yet the most famous & valuable has
5 copies listed across eBay and this
Goldin listing (Black Lotus Beta AP). Perhaps others are listed elsewhere if we were to search online. So 10% of the supply is currently listed by auction (5/50), which is like having 10 copies of RotD classic being auctioned simultaneously. If RotD classic was
fetching $800k, I bet we'd see them surface more often too.
SNK's inserts are thicker than a standard sheet of white office paper, and also of similar length x width. Have you ever seen a standard 500 sheet pack of printer paper? Copy paper is typically thinner/cheaper, so let's go with that.
Now compare that 500 sheet pack of copy paper to the thickness of the classic insert packs. Estimate how many inserts are within the thickness of those packs and you tell me how many you think were actually distributed, if not 100.
NGF claims that they only produced 100 of their US KoF 2000 AES art. They've tried to prove this by serializing them for those that send in to them for authentication.
The purpose of SNK producing the classic art was to satisfy fans/collectors who prefer a consistent style to match their existing collection, and to help the NeoStore move the remaining unsold new stock by bundling. In most and perhaps it was for all cases, < 100 copies were remaining unsold for bundling, at which point the extras were sold unbundled/separately
as seen here.
Btw, it was John Thacker (
Geddon_jt) who proposed to name these the 'classic edition' artwork.
Just double checked my email records with SNK to confirm, and this response was received on Mon 3/8/2004 12:02 AM:
