It takes about 25 years for something to really start to feel nostalgic, and Pokémon cards will soon be a hot new item for vintage collectors, according to some experts.
Collectors, a portfolio of companies that allows people to find, buy, authenticate, track and research “any type of collectible” online – including sports cards, coins and video games – is betting on Pokémon cards’ value to boost significantly in 2024.
While 2021 technically marked the 25-year milestone for the Pokémon franchise's 1996 launch in Japan, the “Base Set” launch in the United States in 1999 is “widely attributed as the key start of the global Pokémon craze,” according to a spokesperson from Collectors.
Collectors told USA TODAY that its prediction for Pokémon cards is backed by years of data. The company said it has “consistently seen a spike in demand after 25 years across sports cards and all categories of collectibles” because an item typically reaches its “full nostalgia factor."
“For people who grew up collecting TCG cards like Pokémon, that moment is occurring right now, and an important driver for being able to act on that nostalgia is having disposable income, which also happens when you’re in your 30s and 40s,” said Collectors CEO Nat Turner. “The other thing that happens in your 30s and 40s is having kids, which also triggers the nostalgia receptor.”
When trading cards reach their “vintage age” (around the 25-year-mark), Turner said it sees a surge of demand for authenticated and graded copies of these items, and the scarcity of the perfect and near-perfect cards helps drive the value of the market.
Collectors tend to value Base Set 2 cards at or slightly below Base Set Unlimited cards. For better or worse, over 90% of the Pokémon cards from the 90s aren't worth much. So if you're panicking over your lost collection, fret no longer — it's probably worth little more than a few good memories.
This is a memento of the very first Pokémon tournament ever held at the Makuhari Messe Event Hall in Chiba, Japan, in June 1997. These cards were given out to four competitors who placed third during the tournament. This particular card was graded as Mint and sold for $300,000 in April 2023.
Many of the rarest Pokémon cards date from the trading card game's early days, with first edition cards released in the 1990s ranking as among the most valuable Pokémon cards today.
Limited Print Runs: Pokémon TCG sets are typically printed in limited quantities. Cards from older sets become scarcer over time, increasing their desirability and potential value.
Every Pokémon card is stamped with a small symbol in the bottom right corner that identifies its rarity. As is the case with most collectibles, scarcity is a major factor in determining the item's value. So the rarer the card's marker, the higher value it'll likely command at auction.
Find a store that specializes in trading card games. Bring your well preserved cards and see how much they'll pay you for them. Be sure to know the value of your cards and how much you'll accept for them before doing business. Call ahead to make sure the store accepts Pokémon cards.
The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest in the trading card franchise because only 39 of them were made back in the 1990s. It was originally produced as a prize for a Japanese magazine contest in 1998 and, as a result, the card is considered a “ holy grail ” in the collecting community.
We know the psa 10 illustrator sold for 6 million and I think the highest a 1st ed base charizard sold for 400k. That's such a large gap between 1 and 2 highest sales.
The First Edition Shining Gyarados from Neo Revelation stands as the most expensive Pokémon card of 2024, commanding a remarkable market value and holding significant historical and sentimental value within the Pokémon card collecting community.
First, the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in the rise of Pokémon cards. As lockdowns and stay-at-home orders went into effect, many people found themselves with more time and disposable income to spend on hobbies and collectibles. As a result, the demand for Pokémon cards skyrocketed.
Yes, Pokémon trading cards are getting very popular again. If you have determined the trading cards to be a collectable. Which by definition of the Pokémon trading cards, are meant to be collectables.
The sustainability of Pokemon card value relies on a consistent and committed collector base. If a significant portion of collectors loses interest or moves on to other pursuits, it could impact the demand for Pokemon cards, affecting their long-term value.
Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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