Gotta catch ‘em all. - by Laura Barry
Ah, Pokémon, the card-collecting phenomenon of the ‘90s. If you were a kid in the early ‘90s then it’s likely you watched the Pokémon TV show, had Pokémon toys and begged your parents to buy you Pokémon cards to collect and swap with your friends.
Once upon a time you could pick up Pokémon cards from your local novelty store or newsagency for a few bucks. But these days those very cards could be worth a whole lot of money, especially if you had rare, limited edition or shiny cards in your collection.
There's been a resurgence of Pokémon card collecting, and Pokémon fans that have long since grown-up into working, money-earning adults are now more than happy to pay a pretty penny to round out their extensive Pokémon card collections.
Of course, just how much your cards are worth depends on what you’ve got.
In 2016 the Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card sold at a Heritage Auctions sale for more than $54,000, due to its rarity. Only 20 to 39 copies of the card were produced – so if you’re sitting on one – now is the time to sell.
But that isn’t to say some of the more common cards aren’t worth anything.
In an article for The Sun in the UK, collectables expert Tracey Martin said that holographic cards are the most valuable, and cards released between 1999 and 2000 – known as ‘shadowless’ Pokémon cards – are now highly sought-after.
Average Pokemon cards might only earn you around $10 a piece, while an authenticated card in mint condition, such as the Raichu shadowless holographic cards released in 1999, is worth up to $4000.
A 1999 first edition shadowless charmeleon can be worth up to $500, while a Nidorino shadowless first edition base set card in mint condition could fetch you up to $160. There's even an Australian card collectors site where Pokemon cards can fetch anything from $5 to $800.
Cherry Collectables
But if you don’t have any of those cards in your collection, don’t stress yet. If you happened to be one of the lucky kids who got a first edition base set of Pokémon cards, then the set itself could be worth money too!
So, what do you do if you own of these rare cards?
- If the cards you have a low level (sitting at the $100 mark) it could be wise to hold on to them for another few years.
- Keep all your cards in mint condition an in cases.
- Get them authenticated and rated by the Professional Sports Authenticator.
- Find out how much you card is worth by researching similar cards sold on eBay and other collector sites.
- Check things such as print and release dates, condition, and whether or not you still have the original packaging.
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Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.
