Pokmon Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9
A legendary Pokémon on a legendarily rare Pokémon card
Sold for $144,300 in May 2021
Lugia is one of the most iconic and popular Pokémon in the entire series, having starred on the front of early Game Boy game Pokémon Silver and its Nintendo DS remake SoulSilver. A legendary bird Pokémon from Gen II, Lugia is one of the most powerful and hard-to-find Pokémon that players can catch in the video games – so its only fitting that its Pokémon card is also extremely rare.
The Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9 Pokémon card is described by auction house PWCC as one of the most difficult Pokémon cards to grade, as the result of a number of errors and misprints that were included in the early runs of the Neo Genesis set for the Pokémon TCG. Later print runs were corrected, but many of the cards from the expansion remain more common in their earlier uncorrected forms.
As of May 2021, PWCC claims that only 41 Gem Mint 10 condition Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia #9 cards have ever been graded by PSA, with just three earning the maximum BGS 10 Pristine rating from grading company Beckett Grading Services. The Lugias rarity means that it ranks almost as highly as the legendary first-edition Charizard when it comes to the most valuable Pokémon cards.
First Edition Holographic Charizard
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $24,000
The #4 Charizard is by far the most desirable of all the first edition Pokémon cards.
Charizard made its first appearance in the Pokémon Red and Blue video games released for the Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color back in the mid-90s and trainers have been relying on the character’s overpowering fire and flying abilities to win battles ever since.
Just how powerful are its fire abilities?
Well, simply refer to the bottom of the card’s front and you can see that Charizard is capable of melting boulders and starting forest fires with ease.
Charizard’s appeal as a dragon and one of the more rare cards certainly adds to its popularity but I think where this card gets an extra boost in value comes from the fact that Charizard appeared on the cover art of the Pokémon Red video game:
That additional exposure greatly increased the character’s notoriety and has driven up the value of this card similar to the effect we see with the Garbage Pail Kids card, Adam Bomb, and its status as the original cover art for that series.
Regardless of why this card is so popular, its value will continue to soar just like the lovable flying dragon creature itself.
Most Valuable First Edition Pokemon Cards
Originally released in Japan as a video game, Pokémon later transformed into a trading card game that began hitting store shelves in the U.S. in 1999.
Today, these trading cards are some of the hottest non-sports cards in the hobby.
And with a catchphrase like Gotta Catch Em All., it’s easy to understand why.
On top of common and rare cards in the base set, there are variations such as Shadowless and First Edition Pokémon cards needed to complete an entire run.
Those First Edition cards are especially some of the rarest and some are even considered to be among the most expensive Pokémon cards;in general.
And in this guide, we take a look at the 25 most valuable.
Let’s jump right in!
More…
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Find The Set The Card Belongs To
If there is no logo on the right side, its Base. Every other set has an indicator.;
When looking into what set a card belongs to, make sure to see if there is any logo on the right side, just underneath and to the right of the illustration. If there is no symbol, the likelihood is that its a Base set card.
There have been error cards that do not have a symbol, so make sure the year matches with the set.
How To Identify First Edition Pokmon Cards
The quickest way to tell if you are looking at a first edition Pokémon card is to look for the first edition symbol.
And remember there are three types of cards you can have in your deck:
This is important because the first edition symbol will appear in different locations depending on the type of card.
On Pokémon cards, it will appear to the lower-left of the Pokémon image while on Energy and Trainer cards it appears in the upper-right and lower-left corners of the cards, respectively:
Pokémon
Trainer
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s go through the list.
The first 16 cards on this list are known as “holographic” cards as their images are shinier.
They’re also more rare as their prints runs were far more limited than the other cards in the 102-card checklist.
And because their more rare, that greatly increases their values as well…
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First Edition Holographic Hitmonchan
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $3,250
Sporting boxing gloves, shoulder pads and extreme quickness, Hitmonchan exhibits every bit of the appearance of the fighting-type Pokémon that he is.
The five protrusions on top of its head round out an overall ferocious look.
Bidding for this card in high grade can be just as ferocious as Hitmonchan itself as prices will often rise above $3,000 or more.
How Much Are Your Pokemon Cards Worth
Nothing beats the thrill of rediscovering your old Pokemon card collection.
Especially when you realise just how much Pokemon card values have increased over the last few years!
In this article were going to discuss how to tell if your Pokemon cards are worth money, and what factors influence their value.
Were then going to go into specifics about cards from certain time periods, sets, languages and even individual Pokemon.
Lets begin!
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First Edition Holographic Venusaur
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,200
Venusaur, the final evolved form of one of the original starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur, is a dual-type grass and poison Pokémon with a noticeably large flower that protrudes from its back.
Because the creature uses that flower to absorb energy from the sun’s rays, it is constantly on the move in search of more sunlight.
Venusaur also serves as the mascot of the Pokémon Green video game making it one of the most recognizable of first edition Pokémon:
Not All Cards Are Worth Something
Its worth noting that your average Pokémon collection wont make you rich. Most cards in recent sets arent worth more than $1, and even the rare ones often arent worth more than $10. However, there still is value in the older cards the ones that have been sitting around in self storage for years. Base set cards can be surprisingly valuable, and if youre lucky enough to have a first edition holographic card, you could be set up for a pretty penny.
If youre looking to maximize your return, use sites like pokemonprices.com or eBay to do research, checking each individual card of uncommon rarity or higher. Blindly selling your collection without doing the legwork on Pokémon card value could end up selling yourself short and giving a collector a great deal.
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Condition: Did You Take Good Care Of Your Cards
The second important factor in a cards value is the condition. If you do happen to have a first-edition, holographic base-set Charizard, youre not guaranteed thousands of dollars. The selling price depends on how well the card has been taken care of.
If you have a card that you expect is worth more than $100, Pratte recommends getting it graded by Professional Sports Authenticator .;
Despite its name, the PSA grades all kinds of trading cards, including non-sports cards like Pokemon. PSAs 10-point grading scale is accepted as the industry standard, and the company also publishes price guides to help you determine a cards worth.;
According to its current valuations, first-edition cards in perfect condition are valued at a minimum of $40. Those arent rarer, holographic cards either. A first-edition holo in mint condition can rake in between $1,000 and $24,000.
So why Prattes $100 limit? Well, the number isnt a hard-and-fast rule, but the card-grading services offered by PSA will cost $20 or more per card, meaning a lower-value card doesnt always merit the cost to get it authenticated.
Its a process, says PSA spokesperson Terry Melia. But its something that could reap big rewards in the end.
In addition to grading the condition of the card, PSA ensures the card isnt a forgery by using high-powered lights and magnifying equipment to check for tampering.
There are a lot of forgeries and bogus merchandise out there, says Melia.
Especially so online.
First Edition Holographic Mewtwo
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,000
A member of the exclusive and powerful Legendary Pokémon group, Mewtwo is considered to be one of the best Pokémon of all-time.
Instantly recognizable, the psychic-type Mewtwo was created when a scientist altered its original DNA via gene-splicing techniques that transformed the creature into one of the most vicious and savage of all Pokémon.
Harnessing its psychic energy, Mewtwo unleashes physical damage on its enemies via its signature more, Psystrike.
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Why Cards Are Rising In Value Right Now
Pokémon card sales and prices have skyrocketed this year, with some cards selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.;
On Thursday, a sealed box of Pokémon booster packs sold for a record $360,000 through Heritage Auctions, while a similar set sold for $198,000 only two months ago. According to eBay, there were 60% more Pokemon card sales on its platform in September compared to January of this year.;
YouTube stars, celebrities and investors have dropped big bucks on cards, which has contributed to the frenzy and helped push up their value. That, in turn, has encouraged others to; snap up cards in hopes that theyll be able to turn a profit.;
Theres an entire genre of buyers unboxing card sets on YouTube and Twitch, where DJ and producer Steve Aoki recently hosted a live charity event devoted to opening up packs.
Publicity is always something that can drum up momentum and price, said Eugene Smith, a 24-year-old card collector and investor from Tampa, Florida, who also happens to work in finance.;
Controversial YouTuber Logan Paul has spent almost $300,000 , while the rapper Logic dropped $226,000 on a rare 1st edition Charizard.;
When I was a kid I absolutely loved Pokémon but couldnt afford the cards, Logic .
People my age are finally in their late-20s, mid-30s, and they can afford the stuff they liked when they were kids, said Jesus Garcia, an assistant comics & comic art operations supervisor at Heritage Auctions.;
How Much Are The Original Pokemon Cards Worth
When we discuss the original, first generation of Pokemon cards, for the sake of this article were going to specifically be talking about cards from 1999-2000.
These sets include:
These are the sets that many collectors grew up with.
It was their first introduction to Pokemon cards, and therefore they hold great nostalgic value.
Because of this, these are often the cards that people getting back into the hobby want to start collecting first. As you can imagine, this drives prices up.
The most popular entry point for new collectors is the original Base Set.
These were the cards flooding school playgrounds in 99, and these are the ones people want to own again.
Dont get me wrong, if you can get 1st Edition or Shadowless variants of these cards, theyre worth A LOT more!
But with 1st Edition Base Set booster boxes selling for north of £250k, they are quite unobtainable for most people at this point.
However! This further enhances the demand/value of the original Base set cards, as people snap them up, fearing the price will also continue to rise.
Its almost a vicious, yet brilliant cycle all at the same time
As an investment piece, old Pokemon cards show great growth potential for the future. But for the keen newbie simply trying to rebuild their old sets, its going to requite a fair amount of capital to get going.
Like with any pokemon card valuations, specific prices are entirely dependent on the four key factors we mentioned earlier .
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Types Of Pokmon Cards
Pokémon trading cards all belong to one of three categories: Pokémon, trainers and energy.
Pokémon cards are the ones that actually feature a Pokémon on them and are typically the ones most sought after by collectors. These cards have different attacks and hit points that represent their health.
Trainer cards often produce specific effects that give you an advantage or your opponent a disadvantage. For example, the wildly popular Professor Sycamore & Professor Juniper cards allow you to discard your hand and draw a new hand of seven new cards.
Energy cards give your Pokémon the power they need to perform their moves. Energy cards are an essential piece of the Pokémon trading card game, but theyre widespread and not typically sought by collectors.;
Ultimate First Edition Pokemon Cards Guide
The same is true for later releases, but its difficult to match the 1999 set in terms of interest or value.;
Trending Pokemon Topics
Charizard Pokemon Card
Heres everything you need to know about the best first edition Pokémon cards, including why some are more special than others, and which ones you should be looking out for.
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The Best Place To Sell Your Pokemon Cards Online: Ebay
;The main marketplace is for sure going to be eBay, Pratte says. Even if youre someone who just stumbled upon your childhood collection, its really easy to take a couple of pictures make a decent listing.
Why eBay? Its home to several high-profile deals, and it also caters to the $20 and $30 transactions. In short, eBay is the perfect meeting ground for nostalgic buyers and sellers and those whove been wheeling and dealing Pokemon cards since the 90s.
How To Value Your Pokmon Cards
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If you want to sell your Pokémon cards, it’s important that you value them first so you know you’re getting a good deal. Fortunately, Pokémon cards are easy to value once you know what to look for and where to look.
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How Value Is Determined
The surge in Pokémon card prices doesnt necessarily mean every card is worth a lot of money or will be.
I think prices will rise for some cards, but obviously not all cards, which is what some people dont get, Caitlin Sidhu explained. If cards are still in print, they wont rise in price. Once the card is out of print it may go up in price, but its not guaranteed.
Jason A., a collector from East Tennessee who declined to give his last name, compared it to the stock market: You can take a bet on a cards value. Is it going to increase? Is it going to flop? Or is it just gonna stay steady?
There are plenty of cards out there that when they first got released are still the same price that they were back then, he said.
A cards scarcity, condition and the actual Pokémon on it all play a role in its value. First edition;holographic cards released as part of Pokémons first print in 1999 command high prices especially Charizard.;;
Why is he always so coveted? In that first set, he was objectively the most powerful, with both the highest HP and the strongest attack. But maybe the reason for his appeal is more obvious than that.
I mean, hes a dragon. Kids love dragons, Garcia said. In the cartoon show, he was kind of rebellious, did whatever he wanted.
Kalvin Foley, after losing his eBay bid, said he was able to finally obtain his Rainbow Vmax Charizard in a private sale.
Only 39 were initially released through a Japanese comic contest in 1998. ;
What Are Energy Cards Used For In The Pokemon Trading Card Game
As kids, a surprising number of Pokemon fans, myself included, loved collecting Pokemon cards without actually knowing how to play the TCG. Things are pretty similar to the video games , but there were those darn energy cards, something we’d never seen in the video games. Energy cards work similarly to lands in Magic the Gathering; you can attach one per turn, they come in different elements, and to use a Pokemon’s attacks, you’ll need a certain number of energy, often requiring specific types.For instance, the original Charizard’s Fire Spin needed four Fire energy. However, in addition to the basic energy of each type, we’ve seen dozens of unique energy cards that offer additional benefits. But with decades of expansion sets to browse, which of these rare resource-generating engines reign supreme? Here are the 10 best energy cards in the Pokemon trading card game!
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First Edition Holographic Alakazam
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,800
With its psychic powers that stem from its extremely powerful brain, Alakazam can bring massive headaches to those unfortunate enough to be nearby.
The evolution from Abra to Kadabra to its final form of Alakazam is one of the more fun name transitions of the series while this card itself is one of the more fun to own.
