Hundreds of Pokémon cards collected in childhood could achieve £2,000 at auction after being discovered in Staffordshire.
Vintage trading cards are bringing a new generation of collectors to the auction world and rich rewards for sellers. Consequently hopes are high for a set of 354 Pokémon cards taken along for valuation at The Bowling Green, Friary Road, Lichfield. The comprehensive set, housed in a folder, is being guided at £1,500-£2,000 in Hansons Auctioneers’ August sales.
Pokémon cards have become collectible in a relatively short space of time. In the late 1990s – only around 25 years ago – countless youngsters got hooked on amassing and trading them. Luckily many were never thrown away but were left gathering dust in bedrooms and drawers.
Consequently, some of those childhood collectors, now in their 30s, are discovering cards which brightened playground life decades ago are worth significant sums. The collection found was amassed by a man who gathered them in childhood 20 years ago. They include Base Sets, the Jungle Set and Fossil Set which are now valuable.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “These cards were bought along to a valuation event by a granddad on behalf of his grandson. He was very pleased with the valuation.”
“Pokémon is a market that has grown rapidly in recent years. It is the strongest it has ever been right now and will only continue to grow. Wealthy young people in their 20s and 30s who got into Pokémon when they were children are buying rare cards and prices began to spike a few years ago.
“Parents are discovering Pokémon collections in forgotten corners of their adult children’s old bedrooms, often in immaculate condition in their original folders. Now’s certinly the time to sell if you have some at home.”
The Pokémon craze took off in the UK in the late 1990s. Year on year the market has grown larger and stronger. From cards to video games, plush toys to television shows and movies, the franchise is completely global.
Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise consisting of video games, animated series and films, a trading card game, and other related media. The franchise originated as a pair of role-playing games developed by Game Freak, following an original concept by its founder, Satoshi Tajiri. Released on Game Boy on February 27, 1996, the games became sleeper hits. From 1998 to 2000 Pokémon was exported to the rest of the world creating an unprecedented global phenomenon dubbed Pokémania.
Auction entries invited
Entries are invited for Hansons’ autumn Toys, Gaming, Railwayana, Live Steam, Dolls and Teddy Bear auctions. To arrange a free valuation email: [email protected] | 01283 733988
Lichfield valuation events
Free drop-in valuations of antiques, jewellery and collectibles are available at The Bowling Green, Friary Road, Lichfield, WS13 6QJ, on Aug 2, Aug 16, Sept 6 and Sept 20, 11am-1pm.
To find out out more, visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk, email [email protected] or call 01283 733988.
