Glasses of Urza

Glasses of Urza was originally printed as a common artifact in the Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering, released in 1993. It was designed as a simple utility card allowing a player to look at their opponent's hand, embodying the flavor of the artificer Urza using his legendary technological prowess to gain tactical knowledge. The card was illustrated by Dan Frazier, whose distinct, painterly style helped define the visual identity of early Magic artifacts.

The version from the Collectors' Edition, released in 1993 as a non-tournament-legal boxed set, was created as a premium collector's product to celebrate the game's initial success. These cards feature a distinct gold-bordered back, differentiating them from standard gameplay cards. While the design and mechanics remain identical to the original release, the Collectors' Edition was aimed at enthusiasts who wanted to own a complete set of the core game's art and cards for display or casual play.