Latest news with #Goldin
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Why rare auction of legendary T206 Honus Wagner card is attracting multi-million dollar bids
An ultra-rare T206 Honus Wagner card is now on sale at auction, marking a milestone event for the sports card hobby. It's also an occasion circled by the very wealthy who want bragging rights and a small piece of 116-year-old art that's repeatedly proven to be one of the world's most lucrative investments. Advertisement Bidding for the 'Connecticut Wagner,' which got its name after being brough to a Connecticut card show in 1985, opened on Wednesday at $2 million in Goldin's Spring Vintage Auction and rose above $3.1 million within the first hour. But Ken Goldin, founder of the auction house, would not be surprised if the winning bid doubled that amount — even though it is graded in 'poor' condition by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), as a '1' on a scale of 1-10. 'North of $6 million would be great for the hobby,' Goldin said. 'Somewhere in mid-seven figures. I view this card as an above-average '1' for the color and the fact that the face is really undisturbed where a lot are very disturbed. And the back is very clean.' Goldin said most 1s have significant paper loss on the back. The Wagner card was originally released by the American Tobacco Company in 1909, part of a set that was included with cigarettes. There are only 36 graded by leading trading card grader PSA and there are another 17 graded by SGC, according to Card Ladder, which tracks card sales across multiple marketplaces. Overall Goldin says the total population of all T206 Wagner cards is believed to be no more than 60. It's such an exclusive club that owners of the card have an exclusive club that meets annually. Last year was the first year in at least the last 30 where no new members joined the club, with no T206 Wagners changing hands. So demand for this offering is expected to be high. 'It has such cultural significance,' Goldin said. 'So many people who don't own anything else in sports would love to own a T206 Wagner for bragging rights.' And also for financial gain. 'I looked at every type of transaction I could think of in gold, precious metals, art, stocks,' Goldin continued. 'The only example I can find where the exact same item (meaning the same Wagner card) sold for more every time is a T206 Wagner, and it's done that in every grade.' Advertisement According to the auction house, the Wagner card in this grade has increased in value by 1,012 percent between 2010 and 2022 (the last two sales). That's between two and three times more than the growth in that period of the major U.S. stock indexes. Wagner is so famous for the scarcity of his card that his excellence as a baseball player is often given short shrift. The hall-of-fame shortstop overcame an unusual body type (barrel chest and bowed legs) to become baseball's greatest pure athlete over his 21-year career between 1897 and 1917, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He stole 723 bases in his career, leading the National League five times. Wagner led the NL in Wins Above Replacement 11 times, won eight batting crowns and amassed the eighth-most hits in history (3,420). The T206 set gets its name, which denotes it is tobacco card set No. 206, from Jefferson Burdick's 1939 book 'The American Card Catalog.' It has 523 or 524 subjects (a topic of some controversy, though Goldin says the number is 523). Legend has it that Wagner's card was pulled from distribution because he hated smoking. But according to the Smithsonian, it's far more likely Wagner just didn't want anyone profiting from his likeness. Goldin, dubbed 'The King of Collectibles' by Netflix in its reality series on his buying and selling operation, is an avid collector himself. But he said the Wagner card is now priced beyond him, even though he owns the rest of the T206 set. 'Like (many), I have waited to find one under a certain price and it just never happens. I wouldn't be surprised to see a graded Wagner of a '1' sell for $10 million soon. And the best of them could sell for $50 million.' The 'best' is in the collection of Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick. In 2007, he paid $2.8 million for a T206 Wagner graded an '8' (near mint to mint) by PSA in the early 1990s — the first card the company ever graded. Though Kendrick said he and others widely suspected the card was altered (trimmed to make it appear in better condition), he bought it anyway. In 2013, the Department of Justice extracted a confession from former sports memorabilia auction house owner Bill Mastro in a plea agreement in which he stated that he trimmed that Wagner card with a paper slicer. Advertisement PSA offered to buy the Wagner card back from Kendrick for what he paid to honor their guarantee. In a recent interview with Sports Card Investor, Kendrick said he declined because he bought it 'with reasonable knowledge and a cachet of wrongdoing. I figured that being part of a crime would make it more valuable.' Kendrick compares it to John Dillinger's gun, which is just a gun but has immensely more value due to its infamous role in a crime. He added that his instincts have clearly proven to be right. He also said the card deserves its grade. In 2021, Kendrick became an investor in PSA's parent company, Collectors Universe. The next highest graded T206 Wagner is one in 'excellent' condition (a '5' on the 10-point scale). Goldin said just 26 are graded higher than the PSA 1 he's auctioning. In April, an 'altered/restored' Wagner fetched $1.98 million. Goldin was impressed by that sale because he said that '95 percent (of buyers) would never have considered the altered Wagner. You had an artist recreate part of it. Let's say you have a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle with the top third torn off and send it out to an art restorer and get it rebuilt. To me it's not the same card.' While the Connecticut Wagner may technically be graded as poor, it's in its natural state and considered more a work of art and a cultural touchstone than a mere piece of cardboard. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Migration should be part of the post-election conversation
In the aftermath of Labor's decisive election victory, there has been much commentary about how the government now has a mandate, and the moral authority, to push through generation-defining reform in areas such as taxation, housing, healthcare, energy and the environment. Not so much has been said about the opportunities that exist in our migration and humanitarian programs. With countries across the globe closing their borders to migrants and refugees, and the slashing - or in the case of the United States, ending - foreign aid and humanitarian funding, the humanitarian sector is facing a vacuum of leadership at the same time as it is seeing displacement crises not witnessed since the end of World War II. Australia has a history of leadership in this space. On a per-capita basis, we are among the most generous welcomers of refugees, and we are home to more permanent migrants than any other country. And there is very little contention around the idea that migration has been a key factor in our prosperity. So, there is an opportunity for Australia to step up and become an exemplar to the world in further developing sustainable and welcoming immigration programs and generous, well-resourced refugee settlement programs. One thing the government could do, informed by the recent experiences of refugees fleeing emergency situations in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza, is to create a new emergency visa class for people fleeing danger or conflict. It could also speed up and improve the asylum vetting process and streamline family reunification arrangements. With global displacement at record levels, increasing the number of refugees Australia accepts is another measure that should be considered. In terms of migrants, Australia is one of the world's most desirable places to live. This gives an opportunity to use migration to address the dire skills shortages we are experiencing across most of our economy. Through carefully planned migration, we can attract some of the 90,000 tradies we are told are needed to lift us out of the housing crisis. We can attract the nurses and doctors we need to staff our hospitals, as well as the aged care workers we need to look after our elderly. Immigration is indelibly etched into Australia's history and inextricably linked to our prosperity and growth. A recent and seminal book by one of the world's leading experts on migration and globalisation, Oxford University Professor Ian Golin, calls for a global "migration bargain". The book, titled The Shortest History of Migration, argues that migration is an integral part of the human condition and without it, the human species would not have survived cataclysmic events that have shaped the planet over millennia. Professor Goldin says that for hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of homosapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. But this deep migratory impulse is being thwarted like never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of societies. Under Professor Goldin's "migration bargain", people's legitimate concerns about the number of migrants are recognised. He says migrants need to abide by the laws of the land they settle in, they need to pay taxes and they need to be documented. In return, they should have rights such as minimum wages, health care, education opportunities and safe passage. "Democratic societies have the right to choose how many people are in our societies. But I think we should admit more. More skilled migrants, more students and some unskilled immigrants as well," Professor Goldin said. But he argued that ultimately, migration more than repays what it costs. "And I think the bargain needs to be between all countries in the world, and particularly between countries that think they are civilised, to have a burden sharing," he said. MORE OPINION: As part of this bargain, we need to distinguish between economic migrants and students and refugees who are in legitimate fear of their lives. All of humanity has a moral responsibility to not allow people to die, as happened during World War II and continues to happen today, because they have nowhere safe to go. This means equitably sharing among countries the right of safe passage and asylum processes for people in danger. Australia has led the world on policy innovation before; on voting rights for women, on universal superannuation, on Medicare and environmental policy, to name few. Maybe we can again be an example to the world when it comes to reimagining global migration. In the aftermath of Labor's decisive election victory, there has been much commentary about how the government now has a mandate, and the moral authority, to push through generation-defining reform in areas such as taxation, housing, healthcare, energy and the environment. Not so much has been said about the opportunities that exist in our migration and humanitarian programs. With countries across the globe closing their borders to migrants and refugees, and the slashing - or in the case of the United States, ending - foreign aid and humanitarian funding, the humanitarian sector is facing a vacuum of leadership at the same time as it is seeing displacement crises not witnessed since the end of World War II. Australia has a history of leadership in this space. On a per-capita basis, we are among the most generous welcomers of refugees, and we are home to more permanent migrants than any other country. And there is very little contention around the idea that migration has been a key factor in our prosperity. So, there is an opportunity for Australia to step up and become an exemplar to the world in further developing sustainable and welcoming immigration programs and generous, well-resourced refugee settlement programs. One thing the government could do, informed by the recent experiences of refugees fleeing emergency situations in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza, is to create a new emergency visa class for people fleeing danger or conflict. It could also speed up and improve the asylum vetting process and streamline family reunification arrangements. With global displacement at record levels, increasing the number of refugees Australia accepts is another measure that should be considered. In terms of migrants, Australia is one of the world's most desirable places to live. This gives an opportunity to use migration to address the dire skills shortages we are experiencing across most of our economy. Through carefully planned migration, we can attract some of the 90,000 tradies we are told are needed to lift us out of the housing crisis. We can attract the nurses and doctors we need to staff our hospitals, as well as the aged care workers we need to look after our elderly. Immigration is indelibly etched into Australia's history and inextricably linked to our prosperity and growth. A recent and seminal book by one of the world's leading experts on migration and globalisation, Oxford University Professor Ian Golin, calls for a global "migration bargain". The book, titled The Shortest History of Migration, argues that migration is an integral part of the human condition and without it, the human species would not have survived cataclysmic events that have shaped the planet over millennia. Professor Goldin says that for hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of homosapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. But this deep migratory impulse is being thwarted like never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of societies. Under Professor Goldin's "migration bargain", people's legitimate concerns about the number of migrants are recognised. He says migrants need to abide by the laws of the land they settle in, they need to pay taxes and they need to be documented. In return, they should have rights such as minimum wages, health care, education opportunities and safe passage. "Democratic societies have the right to choose how many people are in our societies. But I think we should admit more. More skilled migrants, more students and some unskilled immigrants as well," Professor Goldin said. But he argued that ultimately, migration more than repays what it costs. "And I think the bargain needs to be between all countries in the world, and particularly between countries that think they are civilised, to have a burden sharing," he said. MORE OPINION: As part of this bargain, we need to distinguish between economic migrants and students and refugees who are in legitimate fear of their lives. All of humanity has a moral responsibility to not allow people to die, as happened during World War II and continues to happen today, because they have nowhere safe to go. This means equitably sharing among countries the right of safe passage and asylum processes for people in danger. Australia has led the world on policy innovation before; on voting rights for women, on universal superannuation, on Medicare and environmental policy, to name few. Maybe we can again be an example to the world when it comes to reimagining global migration. In the aftermath of Labor's decisive election victory, there has been much commentary about how the government now has a mandate, and the moral authority, to push through generation-defining reform in areas such as taxation, housing, healthcare, energy and the environment. Not so much has been said about the opportunities that exist in our migration and humanitarian programs. With countries across the globe closing their borders to migrants and refugees, and the slashing - or in the case of the United States, ending - foreign aid and humanitarian funding, the humanitarian sector is facing a vacuum of leadership at the same time as it is seeing displacement crises not witnessed since the end of World War II. Australia has a history of leadership in this space. On a per-capita basis, we are among the most generous welcomers of refugees, and we are home to more permanent migrants than any other country. And there is very little contention around the idea that migration has been a key factor in our prosperity. So, there is an opportunity for Australia to step up and become an exemplar to the world in further developing sustainable and welcoming immigration programs and generous, well-resourced refugee settlement programs. One thing the government could do, informed by the recent experiences of refugees fleeing emergency situations in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza, is to create a new emergency visa class for people fleeing danger or conflict. It could also speed up and improve the asylum vetting process and streamline family reunification arrangements. With global displacement at record levels, increasing the number of refugees Australia accepts is another measure that should be considered. In terms of migrants, Australia is one of the world's most desirable places to live. This gives an opportunity to use migration to address the dire skills shortages we are experiencing across most of our economy. Through carefully planned migration, we can attract some of the 90,000 tradies we are told are needed to lift us out of the housing crisis. We can attract the nurses and doctors we need to staff our hospitals, as well as the aged care workers we need to look after our elderly. Immigration is indelibly etched into Australia's history and inextricably linked to our prosperity and growth. A recent and seminal book by one of the world's leading experts on migration and globalisation, Oxford University Professor Ian Golin, calls for a global "migration bargain". The book, titled The Shortest History of Migration, argues that migration is an integral part of the human condition and without it, the human species would not have survived cataclysmic events that have shaped the planet over millennia. Professor Goldin says that for hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of homosapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. But this deep migratory impulse is being thwarted like never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of societies. Under Professor Goldin's "migration bargain", people's legitimate concerns about the number of migrants are recognised. He says migrants need to abide by the laws of the land they settle in, they need to pay taxes and they need to be documented. In return, they should have rights such as minimum wages, health care, education opportunities and safe passage. "Democratic societies have the right to choose how many people are in our societies. But I think we should admit more. More skilled migrants, more students and some unskilled immigrants as well," Professor Goldin said. But he argued that ultimately, migration more than repays what it costs. "And I think the bargain needs to be between all countries in the world, and particularly between countries that think they are civilised, to have a burden sharing," he said. MORE OPINION: As part of this bargain, we need to distinguish between economic migrants and students and refugees who are in legitimate fear of their lives. All of humanity has a moral responsibility to not allow people to die, as happened during World War II and continues to happen today, because they have nowhere safe to go. This means equitably sharing among countries the right of safe passage and asylum processes for people in danger. Australia has led the world on policy innovation before; on voting rights for women, on universal superannuation, on Medicare and environmental policy, to name few. Maybe we can again be an example to the world when it comes to reimagining global migration. In the aftermath of Labor's decisive election victory, there has been much commentary about how the government now has a mandate, and the moral authority, to push through generation-defining reform in areas such as taxation, housing, healthcare, energy and the environment. Not so much has been said about the opportunities that exist in our migration and humanitarian programs. With countries across the globe closing their borders to migrants and refugees, and the slashing - or in the case of the United States, ending - foreign aid and humanitarian funding, the humanitarian sector is facing a vacuum of leadership at the same time as it is seeing displacement crises not witnessed since the end of World War II. Australia has a history of leadership in this space. On a per-capita basis, we are among the most generous welcomers of refugees, and we are home to more permanent migrants than any other country. And there is very little contention around the idea that migration has been a key factor in our prosperity. So, there is an opportunity for Australia to step up and become an exemplar to the world in further developing sustainable and welcoming immigration programs and generous, well-resourced refugee settlement programs. One thing the government could do, informed by the recent experiences of refugees fleeing emergency situations in Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza, is to create a new emergency visa class for people fleeing danger or conflict. It could also speed up and improve the asylum vetting process and streamline family reunification arrangements. With global displacement at record levels, increasing the number of refugees Australia accepts is another measure that should be considered. In terms of migrants, Australia is one of the world's most desirable places to live. This gives an opportunity to use migration to address the dire skills shortages we are experiencing across most of our economy. Through carefully planned migration, we can attract some of the 90,000 tradies we are told are needed to lift us out of the housing crisis. We can attract the nurses and doctors we need to staff our hospitals, as well as the aged care workers we need to look after our elderly. Immigration is indelibly etched into Australia's history and inextricably linked to our prosperity and growth. A recent and seminal book by one of the world's leading experts on migration and globalisation, Oxford University Professor Ian Golin, calls for a global "migration bargain". The book, titled The Shortest History of Migration, argues that migration is an integral part of the human condition and without it, the human species would not have survived cataclysmic events that have shaped the planet over millennia. Professor Goldin says that for hundreds of thousands of years, the ability of homosapiens to travel across vast distances and adapt to new environments has been key to our survival as a species. But this deep migratory impulse is being thwarted like never before. By building ever stronger walls and raising barriers to progress, governments are harming the lives of migrants and threatening the future well-being of societies. Under Professor Goldin's "migration bargain", people's legitimate concerns about the number of migrants are recognised. He says migrants need to abide by the laws of the land they settle in, they need to pay taxes and they need to be documented. In return, they should have rights such as minimum wages, health care, education opportunities and safe passage. "Democratic societies have the right to choose how many people are in our societies. But I think we should admit more. More skilled migrants, more students and some unskilled immigrants as well," Professor Goldin said. But he argued that ultimately, migration more than repays what it costs. "And I think the bargain needs to be between all countries in the world, and particularly between countries that think they are civilised, to have a burden sharing," he said. MORE OPINION: As part of this bargain, we need to distinguish between economic migrants and students and refugees who are in legitimate fear of their lives. All of humanity has a moral responsibility to not allow people to die, as happened during World War II and continues to happen today, because they have nowhere safe to go. This means equitably sharing among countries the right of safe passage and asylum processes for people in danger. Australia has led the world on policy innovation before; on voting rights for women, on universal superannuation, on Medicare and environmental policy, to name few. Maybe we can again be an example to the world when it comes to reimagining global migration.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iconic Pokemon card from 1999 just sold for £160,000 – check your drawers for 13 more common ones worth over £5,000 EACH
Other valuable Pokémon items sold in the recent auction include the Pokémon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holofoil Kangaskhan collectible which sold for $68,321 (£51,175) GOTTA CASH 'EM ALL Iconic Pokemon card from 1999 just sold for £160,000 – check your drawers for 13 more common ones worth over £5,000 EACH Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALL those Pokémon cards you collected as a child weren't a waste of money after all. And if you've kept them in good nick - they could be worth up to a staggering £160,000. 3 A 1999 Pokémon Charizard card recently fetched $213,500 (£160,000) at Goldin's recently concluded "Pop Culture Elite Auction" Credit: Goldin 3 Other valuable Pokémon items sold in the recent auction include the Pokémon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holofoil Kangaskhan collectible which sold for $68,321 (£51,175) A 1999 Pokémon Charizard card recently fetched $213,500 (£160,000) at Goldin's recently concluded "Pop Culture Elite Auction". Goldin had hundreds of items up for grabs, including a Disney pirate hat signed by Johnny Depp and a boxing glove inked by Sylvestor Stallone. Despite all the celebrity memorabilia, one of the biggest sums was snagged by a palm-size piece of card. "Ever since the release of the first Pokémon trading cards in 1996, Charizard has held a special place at the pinnacle of Pokémon fandom," Goldin said in the listing. "The ferocious, fire-breathing Flame Pokémon stars on this holographic treasure dating to the 1999 Pokémon issue." This is a very early release. The first set of Pokémon cards hit shelves in October 1996. 'The holofoil background behind the massive Charizard on the card's front dazzles as the item presents a crisp illustration of its subject by the renowned artist Mitsuhiro Arita," continued Goldin. "This is a true cornerstone of the Pokémon collecting speciality, and an incredible piece that would instantly be the crown jewel of any Pokémon collection." Other valuable Pokémon items sold in the recent auction include the Pokémon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holofoil Kangaskhan collectible which sold for $68,321 (£51,175). I kept my Pokémon cards that I bought for $35 - but I was floored when Antiques Roadshow told me they were worth $10,000 The Pokémon Japanese CoroCoro Comics Promo Best Photo Snap Gyarados collectible which snagged $51,113 (£38,285). And "one of the rarest Pokémon promo cards ever minted," according to Goldin, the 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo 64 Mario Stadium Best Photo #109 Snap Koffing - which netted $37,805 (£28,315). According to Price Charting, a website that tracks the sale prices of games, cards and comics, there are several more cards that can fetch a pretty penny. Though it's worth noting these prices are for Grade 10 quality pieces - cards which have no noticeable flaws. Here's 10 Pokémon cards you should look for at home: Chansey [1st edition] - £29,925 Blastoise [1st edition] - £15,600 Charizard [Shadowless] - £11,750 Venusaur [1st edition] - £9,425 Blastoise [Shadowless] - £9,130 Gyarados [1st edition] - £8,400 Alakazam [1st edition] - £8,040 Mewtwo [1st edition] - £6,845 Ninetales [1st edition] - £5,985 Booster Pack [1st edition] - £5,760 What does Grade 10 mean? Having a Grade 10 Pokémon card means it is in perfect condition - and can fetch the highest sum. According to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), 10 is the best possible grade you can get. It's defined by the PSA as "a perfect card with no discernible flaws". While a Grade 9 is considered "mint" condition. A card of Grade 9 quality has only a few very minor imperfections. This could be something as slight as an off-white border, a tiny printing flaw or a minor wax stain on the back. While not perfect, a PSA 9 card still holds significant value and is considered a high-grade collectible. A PSA 9 card is typically one that has been well looked after, with four sharp corners and only minor wear on the edges. Pokémon cards require assessment and verification of their condition by professional grading services like PSA.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Iconic Pokemon card from 1999 just sold for £160,000 – check your drawers for 13 more common ones worth over £5,000 EACH
ALL those Pokémon cards you collected as a child weren't a waste of money after all. And if you've kept them in good nick - they could be worth up to a staggering £160,000. Advertisement 3 A 1999 Pokémon Charizard card recently fetched $213,500 (£160,000) at Goldin's recently concluded "Pop Culture Elite Auction" Credit: Goldin 3 Other valuable Pokémon items sold in the recent auction include the Pokémon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holofoil Kangaskhan collectible which sold for $68,321 (£51,175) A 1999 Pokémon Charizard card recently fetched $213,500 (£160,000) at Goldin's recently concluded "Pop Culture Elite Auction". Goldin had hundreds of items up for grabs, including a Disney pirate hat signed by Johnny Depp and a boxing glove inked by Sylvestor Stallone. Despite all the celebrity memorabilia, one of the biggest sums was snagged by a palm-size piece of card. "Ever since the release of the first Pokémon trading cards in 1996, Charizard has held a special place at the pinnacle of Pokémon fandom," Goldin said in the Advertisement READ MORE ON GAMING "The ferocious, fire-breathing Flame Pokémon stars on this holographic treasure dating to the 1999 Pokémon issue." This is a very early release. The first set of Pokémon cards hit shelves in October 1996. 'The holofoil background behind the massive Charizard on the card's front dazzles as the item presents a crisp illustration of its subject by the renowned artist Mitsuhiro Arita," continued Goldin. "This is a true cornerstone of the Pokémon collecting speciality, and an incredible piece that would instantly be the crown jewel of any Pokémon collection." Advertisement Most read in Tech Exclusive Latest Other valuable Pokémon items sold in the recent auction include the Pokémon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holofoil Kangaskhan collectible which sold for $68,321 (£51,175). I kept my Pokémon cards that I bought for $35 - but I was floored when Antiques Roadshow told me they were worth $10,000 The Pokémon Japanese CoroCoro Comics Promo Best Photo Snap Gyarados collectible which snagged $51,113 (£38,285). And "one of the rarest Pokémon promo cards ever minted," according to Goldin, the 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo 64 Mario Stadium Best Photo #109 Snap Koffing - which netted $37,805 (£28,315). According to Price Charting, a website that tracks the sale prices of games, cards and comics, there are several more cards that can fetch a pretty penny. Advertisement Though it's worth noting these prices are for Grade 10 quality pieces - cards which have no noticeable flaws. Here's 10 Pokémon cards you should look for at home: Chansey [1st edition] - £29,925 Blastoise [1st edition] - £15,600 Charizard [Shadowless] - £11,750 Venusaur [1st edition] - £9,425 Blastoise [Shadowless] - £9,130 Gyarados [1st edition] - £8,400 Alakazam [1st edition] - £8,040 Mewtwo [1st edition] - £6,845 Ninetales [1st edition] - £5,985 Booster Pack [1st edition] - £5,760 What does Grade 10 mean? Having a Grade 10 Pokémon card means it is in perfect condition - and can fetch the highest sum. According to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), 10 is the best possible grade you can get. It's defined by the PSA as "a perfect card with no discernible flaws". While a Grade 9 is considered "mint" condition. A card of Grade 9 quality has only a few very minor imperfections. This could be something as slight as an off-white border, a tiny printing flaw or a minor wax stain on the back. While not perfect, a PSA 9 card still holds significant value and is considered a high-grade collectible. A PSA 9 card is typically one that has been well looked after, with four sharp corners and only minor wear on the edges. Pokémon cards require assessment and verification of their condition by professional grading services like PSA. 3 A first edition Grade 9 copy of Blastoise could go for £4,025, according to Price Charting Credit:
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iconic Pokemon card from 1999 just sold for £160,000 – check your drawers for 13 more common ones worth over £5,000 EACH
ALL those Pokémon cards you collected as a child weren't a waste of money after all. And if you've kept them in good nick - they could be worth up to a staggering £160,000. 3 3 A 1999 Pokémon Charizard card recently fetched $213,500 (£160,000) at Goldin's recently concluded "Pop Culture Elite Auction". Goldin had hundreds of items up for grabs, including a Disney pirate hat signed by Johnny Depp and a boxing glove inked by Sylvestor Stallone. Despite all the celebrity memorabilia, one of the biggest sums was snagged by a palm-size piece of card. "Ever since the release of the first Pokémon trading cards in 1996, Charizard has held a special place at the pinnacle of Pokémon fandom," Goldin said in the listing. "The ferocious, fire-breathing Flame Pokémon stars on this holographic treasure dating to the 1999 Pokémon issue." This is a very early release. The first set of Pokémon cards hit shelves in October 1996. 'The holofoil background behind the massive Charizard on the card's front dazzles as the item presents a crisp illustration of its subject by the renowned artist Mitsuhiro Arita," continued Goldin. "This is a true cornerstone of the Pokémon collecting speciality, and an incredible piece that would instantly be the crown jewel of any Pokémon collection." Other valuable Pokémon items sold in the recent auction include the Pokémon Japanese Promo Family Event Trophy Card Holofoil Kangaskhan collectible which sold for $68,321 (£51,175). The Pokémon Japanese CoroCoro Comics Promo Best Photo Snap Gyarados collectible which snagged $51,113 (£38,285). And "one of the rarest Pokémon promo cards ever minted," according to Goldin, the 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo 64 Mario Stadium Best Photo #109 Snap Koffing - which netted $37,805 (£28,315). According to Price Charting, a website that tracks the sale prices of games, cards and comics, there are several more cards that can fetch a pretty penny. Though it's worth noting these prices are for Grade 10 quality pieces - cards which have no noticeable flaws. Here's 10 Pokémon cards you should look for at home: Chansey [1st edition] - £29,925 Blastoise [1st edition] - £15,600 Charizard [Shadowless] - £11,750 Venusaur [1st edition] - £9,425 Blastoise [Shadowless] - £9,130 Gyarados [1st edition] - £8,400 Alakazam [1st edition] - £8,040 Mewtwo [1st edition] - £6,845 Ninetales [1st edition] - £5,985 Booster Pack [1st edition] - £5,760 What does Grade 10 mean? Having a Grade 10 Pokémon card means it is in perfect condition - and can fetch the highest sum. According to the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), 10 is the best possible grade you can get. It's defined by the PSA as "a perfect card with no discernible flaws". While a Grade 9 is considered "mint" condition. A card of Grade 9 quality has only a few very minor imperfections. This could be something as slight as an off-white border, a tiny printing flaw or a minor wax stain on the back. While not perfect, a PSA 9 card still holds significant value and is considered a high-grade collectible. A PSA 9 card is typically one that has been well looked after, with four sharp corners and only minor wear on the edges. Pokémon cards require assessment and verification of their condition by professional grading services like PSA. 3
