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A Pokémon card that cost $2.70 in 1999 is expected to fetch $54,000 at auction, demonstrating the surging value of collectible trading cards and the enduring appeal of the Pokémon franchise. The 1st edition Shadowless Base Set Charizard card is being offered by Hansons Auctioneers, a UK-based auction house, and is considered a highly sought-after item by collectors.
Only between 4,000 and 10,000 of these cards were originally produced, and most have suffered wear and tear from decades of use. This particular card, graded a 9 out of 10 for its condition, is especially rare.
The increasing value of these cards reflects a broader trend of nostalgia-driven collectibles gaining prominence in the market.
Also up for auction is a complete set of 1st edition Jungle cards, all graded 9, estimated to be worth between $20,300 and $27,000. The 64-card set originally retailed for $270 in June 1999.
A sealed box of boosters from the first English Pokémon collection will also be auctioned, with an estimated value between $16,900 and $20,300. The rare box, housed in a protective acrylic display case, contains 36 sealed packs from the Unlimited Edition.
“Back in 1999, the box cost around $135, which wasn’t a bad investment considering its current value of $13,500,” said David Wilson-Turner, Pokémon specialist at the auction house, according to the New York Post.
Auctioneer Charles Hanson, a star of the TV program Bargain Hunt, stated that wealthy young people in their 20s and 30s, who became interested in Pokémon as children, have begun purchasing rare cards, driving up prices in recent years.
