A man who was clever enough to amass valuable Pokémon cards in playground swaps at primary school could see his collection sell for thousands of pounds at auction.
JC Smith got into Japanese Pokémon cards around the age of 10 or 11 in the late 1990s and he was so savvy he treasured them like an accomplished collector.
Now more than 100 cards split into 40 lots are on target to make in excess of £13,000 when they go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers on July 21.
JC, a designer from London, said: “I started collecting Pokémon cards around 25 years ago when I was in primary school. I always thought they would be worth a lot of money one day so I really looked after them.
“I was meticulous. I bought individual sleeves for each card, put another plastic case around that and then placed them in folders to protect them. That’s why they’re in such good condition today.
“I got into collecting with a childhood friend. We spent our pocket money on Pokémon cards and it was expensive at the time. The cheapest pack was £2.50 and the most expensive £7.50. That was a lot of money 25 years ago.
“We used to swap cards in the playground with other kids and at the shop where we used to buy the packs from. I did well with some of my swaps as other kids weren’t as fanatical as me. I suppose being half Asian had some influence as family in Asia bought me them as gifts too.
“We collected solidly for about two years but then stopped because new cards were coming out every month and we couldn’t keep up. Also, it was annoying our parents who thought we spent too much on Pokémon!
“I kept my cards safe but forgot about them for years. Then, just before lockdown, I started looking through my collection again and realised how amazing it was. I have some scarce collectors’ items.
“Some notable cards for sale in the auction were gained through the Evolution Communication Campaign exclusively in Japan which shared iconic references to the early video games. You had to mail in specific Pokémon Cards – five in total – with an additional ‘Bill’s PC’ Pokémon card during a specific month in 1999. You were then mailed back the evolved form of the Pokémon sent in.
“This correlated to the games where these Pokémon would only evolve by trading with another player. There is incredible attention to detail within the Pokémon Trading Card Game. They believed in them all those years ago and created a story we can enjoy even more as time goes on. I’m only selling now because I’ve got into collecting again. I plan to use the proceeds to invest in even more high-end Pokémon cards.”
Among valuable items is lot 421, a sought-after card awarded to Pokémon Fan Club members. The Porygon 700 Points, 2000 Japanese Fan Club Promo card, Cert No. 64470565, has an estimate of £2,300-£2,500.
Lot 410 could also excel, a collection of five PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) graded Masaki Evolution Campaign cards – PSA 5 EX Golem, PSA 6 EX-MT Machamp, PSA 8 NM-MT Omastar, PSA 8 NM-MT Alakazam, and PSA 7 NM Gengar, estimate £1,400-£1,600. They became available during a ‘Mail In Evolution Campaign’.
In addition, lot 409, is on course to make £750-£800, a highly collectible jungle holo error Pokemon cards with the set symbol missing. It comprises PSA 9 MINT Eeveeloution Trio – Flareon, Jolteon and Vaporeon, Jungle ‘No Symbol’ Error. Sequential Cert No’s: 63674409, 63674410, and 63674411.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL POKEMON LOTS IN JULY 21 SALE
David Wilson-Turner, head of Hansons’ toy and gaming sales, said: “There can’t be many 11-year-olds as savvy as JC. It wasn’t just that he had the foresight and intelligence to recognise Pokémon cards could be very valuable in the future, he stored them with the precision of an advanced and experienced adult collector. Every card has been perfectly preserved. He thoroughly deserves to reap his reward at auction.
“Pokémon trading cards are massively popular to buy and collect and have been steadily rising in value for more than six years now. Wealthy young people in their 20s and 30s who got into Pokémon when they were children are buying rare cards and prices have spiked.
“For example, in 2021 a 26-year-old boxer and YouTuber called Logan Paul caught the media’s attention when he wore a rare first edition Base Set Charizard Pokémon card as a medallion round his neck as he entered the ring for an exhibition fight. He bought the card for $150,000 (£108,117).
“Prices were fuelled even more by Pokémon25, a celebration throughout 2021 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, which began with the original Japanese release of Pocket Monsters Red and Green for Game Boy on February 27, 1996.”
JC Smith’ Pokémon collection will be offered on July 21 in a Specialist Toy Auction at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk and www.the-saleroom.com. To find out more, email [email protected].
