If you have a binder or box full of Pokémon cards in your closet or basement, the contents could be worth thousands of dollars. Or maybe less than $100. It depends.
The value of Pokemon cards has skyrocketed in recent years, with collectors snapping up some rare cards for over $1 million.
“We have a lot of people who find their own collections in closets and want to sell some cards that are worth money,” said Jeffrey Follett, a manager at 401 Games in Toronto.
“We also get people who find that their interest in the hobby is rekindled upon discovering their collection.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Companies dealing in trading cards have seen an increase in businessWhen people had time to dust off their old collections and were looking to find something of value, others wanted to add to their collections.
According to eBay Canada, searches for “Pokémon” on eBay.ca have increased more than 160 percent in the past five years.
This year in Canada, the Mew Victory Orb Card, First Edition Charizard and Eevee Promo Card sold for $26,500, $15,500 and $12,500 respectively. In 2022, YouTube influencer and professional wrestler Logan Paul bought a card called Pikachu Illustrator for $5.2 million US.
But that doesn’t mean your cards will earn you millions.
The popularity continues
Daniel Doust loved Pokemon cards when he was a kid, but when he was a teenager he sold his collection for $50 at a flea market and Pokemon wasn’t cool anymore.
But he took up the hobby again in 2016.
Daoust’s prized possession is a first edition Shadowless Blastoise, a popular Pokemon from the original race. He said he has spent tens of thousands of dollars on his collection, but he sometimes sells parts of it to buy new ones.
“I’m a very nostalgic person. And I love the stuff I grew up with,” Doust said. “People look for things they enjoyed when they were younger that they no longer have. And during the (COVID-19) lockdown, I found that to be prevalent.”
The Pokémon Company has turned off that nostalgia. It released a set of cards called Pokemon Celebrations in 2021 to commemorate 25 years of Pokemon cards featuring remakes of classic cards.
“There were a lot of lines at stores and people trying to hunt it down, and we just couldn’t produce fast enough,” said Barry Sams, vice president of trading card game and organized play for Pokemon, based in Seattle.
“I think we’ve been able to get adults back into it, that excitement around cards and collecting them.”
Are my cards worth it?
The value of the card depends on a few things. A big factor is rarity. On most cards, a little symbol in the lower left corner tells you how rare they are.
A black circle means it’s normal. If it’s a black diamond, it means it’s unusual, while a black star means it’s rare. Then there are other card types such as secret rares and alternate arts that are even more valuable.
“I like things that set me apart … rarity, scarcity, obscurity, that’s what really drives me in terms of my collecting,” Doust said.
On average, older cards from the late 1990s and early 2000s are worth more, although some newer cards can be expensive. Unopened packs or boxes of packs that are no longer in production can fetch big bucks.
If you’re not sure, an easy way to check is by searching online for a specific card, then seeing what that card has sold for recently.
You can always count cards that include Charizard as being worth a pretty penny. Pikachu, Mew, Blastoise and Gengar are also popular choices according to the top search results on eBay Canada.
Condition is everything in grading
If you have a collection of cards that you want to earn money from, you’d think you’d play with them slowly like a child. Because cards are truly valuable when they are in good condition.
“It’s a pretty big factor because it’s predominantly collector-oriented. Especially for these older cards, people are looking for things that are in really good condition,” said Follett of retailer 401 Games.
Beckett Collectibles and many other companies like PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), grade cards, comics and all kinds of other memorabilia and collectibles.
Companies take submissions for a fee, which can range from $15 to $30, or even more for premium-level service.
Cards and other items are rated on a scale of one to 10, based on a set of criteria that include conditions and how well the card is centered within the boundary.
Getting a PSA 10 grade can be difficult. Every tiny ding or scratch is literally examined under a microscope. But a good grade can take a card worth hundreds to thousands of dollars.
How to sell your cards
People who want to sell their old cards have several options. They can post the cards on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji to sell them locally.
If you’re making a large purchase, Daoust suggests checking to see if anyone has transacted with the person you’re dealing with. Make sure they are genuine.
“Get references. If you can, see if you know regular people. That works really well within the community,” he said.
You can go to eBay and try to sell your cards that way. If you don’t want the hassle, Follett suggests going to your local game store.
“It’s going to take some work,” he said.
“We see a lot of people come in all the time and want to sell their entire collection for that exact reason….(They’ll) look to us or their other local game stores to see if they can do it or not. Something where they think they’ve got a fair offer for their collection. Do the work.”