It's time to kick yourself for throwing out all of your old Pokémon cards again, because this latest mega-auction proves that their ludicrously high value isn't falling any time soon.
Yesterday saw the end of an online auction held on eBay, where one lucky bidder was set to walk away with one of the most sought after cards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The 1st Edition Base Set Charizard has been popular with fans ever since its introduction back in 1999 – if you had one of these you'd be the king or queen of the playground and, while you didn't know it at the time, you were sitting on an absolute goldmine.
The card in question was a Shadowless 1st Edition Holo variant with a PSA rating of '10 Gem Mint' – in other words, it's the rarest version of the card ever released and in the best condition it could possibly be in. The auction ended on 28th March with a total of 124 bids, selling for an eyewatering USD $311,800.
Here's the listing's description, written by the auction house selling the card:
"Emblematic of the strength and power its design was meant to portray, the 1st Edition Base Set Charizard card continues to inspire awe even after almost a quarter of a century. This historic piece of art designed by celebrated artist Mitsuhiro Arita is easily the most recognizable Pokemon card ever made.
Despite over 2600 copies being submitted to PSA, only 122 have been granted the PSA 10 Gem Mint designation to date by their graders due in part to the card's own popularity. Featuring the highest attack power of any of the original Pokemon cards produced; the ferocity of the artwork coupled with the might of its Fire Spin caused most Pokemon fanatics to use it with pride."
Amazingly, that's not the record total handed over for a single Pokémon card at auction. That honour goes to a rare Blastoise card that sold earlier this year for $360,000.
Thanks to the aptly named TeamRocket47 for the tip!
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Comments 25
I've got a Charizaro card. It evolves from Metapod.
Is that worth anything?
I am starting to think those are used as money laundering just like those useless paintings (the one with just one line).
This card is older than me... I never even had a chance to get it. 😔
Ah yes, i love seeing shiny cardboard being sold for more than my house is worth (this is not a joke)
I bet its the same pokemon card getting re-sold all the hands on that thing.....They do wash it right?
Well, I had 2 way back in the day. Step-father was a monster, burned much of my toys as punishment pretty often.
But, still got my sets of first editions of Team Rocket imports from few sets later. And the Mew card.
I wonder how much it'll be worth when our sun turns into a red giant? xD
@1ofUs In the future we will be buying houses with Pokémon cards. Trading cards will replace cryptocurrency. I have seen the future and it is made of shiny cardboard.
"It's time to kick yourself for throwing out all of your old Pokémon cards again,"
Nah mine were the ones mass produced cards every kid had bought from tesco in the condition of used by kids to play the game with zero protection from elements, stickiness, etc. Even if turned up I doubt collectors would touch them.
Just threw mine away yesterday.
I remember buying my Charizard for $50 in the late 90's, and I still have it. 😅
We used to call them shiny cards not holo cards! I'm sure I've got a shiny charazard somwhere in the loft i definitely had one as a kid. I swapped pokemon yellow for it which was a big deal back then. It can't be worth 250 grand tho no way.
@1ofUs Same!
That said, on balance, I think a home is a slighty better use of one's money than a shiny Charizard card!
Wow!! That’s gonna make a collector happy. I can only imagine what a full set from that edition must be worth, if it contains cards of this caliber.
NINJA APPROVED
Charizard Pokemon Card: $300k. PNG Background: About Tree Fitty
@SoManyHaveDied
NFT for your PNG background: $650k
I've got Yugioh cards what go for 100's but yeah nothing like this.
I have a Holo Machamp 1st Edition....
$99 - $149 OH YEAH, BABY!
Is it known how many of these exist? Surely quite easy (if you have access to high spec commercial printing presses, etc) to reproduce now, as they weren't really designed with any anti- counterfeit measures.
This is just going to make scalping worse isn't it?
Sub heading should have been:
"Gotta cash em all!'
Missed opportunity.
@RupeeClock
Haha! Ah, that exact "card" used to make the rounds in everyone's collection back in my elementary school, someone'd fool you to trade something good for it and then shortly after you'd realize you were tricked and then it's up to you to do that for someone else, it was a real vicious cycle.
i do. same as pic, likely mint as well. from pack to hard sleeve. but its not 1st edition. id guess only worth like $30 max
it was my 2nd holo ever pulled. Alakazam was my first. on my birthday too. being born in that era was great. i stupidly traded my alakzam to a kid at daycare who said his holo machamp was more rare.....this all before i knew what pokemon cards were worth.
@Expa0
Sounds fun! I pulled the card from a booster pack of fake cards when I was on holiday decades ago.
I really do still have the thing, it's an anomaly of modifying the Butterfree card with Charizard's artwork and name, but no other details.
99.9% of your Pokemon cards will never be that quality just because ifnthe care needed when handling the pack when opening and even the condition it was in before you purchased the packs. Then there's the whole manner of paying a hefty sum to get it appraised on too of everything else.
But even a NM base Charizard can see for up to $300. I've even been looking for buyers for my collection because I have a lot of good NM cards.
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