Pokmon Base Set 1st Edition Shadowless Holo Blastoise #2
The second of the trio of evolved starters from the 1999 set, Blastoise was also the cover star for Pokémon Blue.
First off, lets get the price tag out of the way. A PSA 10 copy sold for $45,000 in 2020, with another selling for $44,000 this year.
Its all the more astounding considering there are around 100 when looking at graded pristine copies.
However, Blastoise is indisputably one of the most popular Pokémon ever, and the same goes for Squirtle and Wartortle, which is the evolution path it follows.
In fact, its the second-most valuable card from the original 1999 set.
What Is The Rarest Pokemon Card And Is It The Most Expensive
Many names will be thrown into the fray but the consensus opinion is that it is the Pikachu Illustrator card. Manufactured in 1998, the card was only given out to the winners of a CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest that took place that year. They numbered about 39 but with the passage of time, only 10 survived which has made the card the Holy Grail of Pokémon. As a confirmation of its coveted status, it has twice broken the world record for the most expensive Pokémon card ever sold. The first time was in 2019 when it sold for about $195K and the second time was in 2020 when it sold for about $226K.
Identifying Valuable Pokmon Cards
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Pokemon First Edition Blastoise
Sold in November, 2020 for $45,100
One of the coolest-looking of all Pokémon with its twin water cannons that retract from the shell on its back, Blastoise received a massive boost in popularity after serving as the cover mascot of the Pokémon Blue video game.
1st Edition Blastoise cards feature a first edition stamp to the lower left of the holographic image and no shadowing effect behind its right and bottom borders.
Out of the 2,070 first edition Blatoise cards submitted to PSA as of this writing, 100 of them have been given the PSA 10 distinction or roughly 4.8% of them.
Gold Star Pop Series 5 Umbreon: $27000
The Japanese version of the Shining Umbreon Pokemon card is pretty highly desired, with its unique coloring and gorgeous frame-piercing artwork making it fittingly beautiful as one of the first shiny Pokemon to appear on a card.
However, its price is so high because of much more than just its looks and popularity. The Shining Umbreon card only saw a very limited release through the Japanese Pokemon Players’ Club for hitting the maximum number of experience points through attending organised play events between 2005 and 2006, making it one of the rarest cards out there. In 2020, PWCC Auctions sold a PSA-10 copy of it for $20,000, showing just how in-demand it is. Notably, this card was reprinted for the first time ever in 2021, as part of the 25th Anniversary Celebrations set. Though that version is worth way, way less, it’s still the third most valuable card in the expansion.
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First Edition Holographic Blastoise
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $5,500
A water-type Pokémon, Blastoise first appears in the Pokémon Red and Blue video games as the final evolutionary stage of Squirtle, one of the original three starter Pokémon.
Relying on twin water cannons that retract from the shell on its back, Blastoise is capable of delivering powerful blasts of water with superior accuracy.
And just as we saw Charizard’s boost in popularity stemming from its appearance on the cover art of the Pokémon Red video game, Blastoise was the center of attention on the Pokémon Blue video game:
Rightfully considered one of the coolest-looking of all Pokémon, Blastoise remains a collector favorite and this card can bring thousands of dollars in high grade.
Most Expensive Pokmon Cards In Review
Clearly, the non-sports card collecting world is every bit as hot as the sports card hobby.
Passionate collectors are obviously willing to shell out big bucks to land any one of the prized possessions on this list.
The video games, television shows, and the cards themselves transformed Pokémon into a worldwide phenomenon with an enormous fan base.
And many of those kids who grew up with these cards are now adults with more spending power able to pay big bucks for them in top condition.
It doesn’t look like that trend will slow anytime soon as these cards have found their place as one of the most popular non-sports sets in the hobby.
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Rarity: Is Your Collection All That Special
In terms of rarity, base-set cards are where the money is for most collectors, and these cards are the most traded ones in the hobby. Set cards are any card you can pull from a pack bought from the store, says Pratte. The base set comprises the original 102 cards printed in 1999 and includes classic Pokemon like Pikachu, Blastoise, Charizard and Venusaur.
A complete first-edition base set in mint condition sold for $100,000 in December 2017. If you have a base-set card in your card collection, there are a few visual indicators of its worth.
Holographic cards: These are the most discernable at first glance. The background of the Pokemon illustration is shiny and reflective not the whole card, only the picture of the monster. Theyre typically referred to as holo cards, and only 16 of the original 102 are holo.
First-edition cards: Directly next to the left corner of the illustration appears the edition 1 logo. These rare cards were bought up shortly after initial release and remain some of the most sought-after and valuable cards.
Shadowless cards: This version is almost identical to the first-edition prints but excludes the first-edition logo. If you dont have a newer card for comparison, this is particularly hard to notice: the illustration box appears 2D. On newer cards, the picture box has a shadow along the right border to give it a 3D appearance.
The First Pokemon Movie Misprint
The very first Pokemon movie, Mewtwo Strikes Back, provided players with multiple promo cards including The First Movie Pikachu. That one’s worth an okay chunk of change to this day, but the real money is in the rare misprints early on in which the company stamped their name upside-down.
We call these sorts of cards misprints, or if we’re feeling mean-spirited, misfires. Whatever happened to the stamp location, hey, mistakes exist. It’s fine. What’s less fine is that, if you want this card, youl’l need to shell out thousands.
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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.
Best Pokmon Card Storage Methods And Ideas
No matter if youre interested in selling your Pokémon cards or keeping them, its important to know how to store them. If youre interested in the former, properly storing your cards will maintain their value. And if even if youre not interested in selling, you dont want to ruin your belongings by improperly storing them.
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Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holographic Lugia
Sold: in May, 2021 Price: $144,300
The card is estimated to be one of the most perfect examples of the super popular card, a first-edition Lugia. Pokémon: Silver features this Pokémon, a legendary Pokémon from Gen II due to its appearance on the cover. Because Lugia was given love from players, many people have this kind of card. But according to Beckett Grading Services, a highly-rated trading card, and collectible grading company, almost all Lugia cards are not rated Pristine 10. In the future, they even predict that these cards can be sold for more.
First Edition Holographic Chansey
Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $3,500
Chansey is a pink, normal-type Pokémon that, despite its short legs, is a fast runner and extremely difficult to catch making it one of the more elusive creatures on this list.
Using the egg held in its pouch, Chansey will often complete its signature move known as “Soft-Boiled” to help heal both people and other Pokémon.
Its gentle nature and kind heart are said to bring happiness to those who catch it while bringing lots of money to those who own this card.
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Pokemon First Edition Raichu
Sold in March, 2021 for $17,100
As Pokemon skyrocketed in popularity over the years, one character became almost synonymous with the franchise as its de facto mascot.
Much of Pikachu’s popularity originates from the first episode of the Pokemon anime series entitled “Pokemon – I Choose You!” when the main protagonist of the series, Ash Ketchum, a trainer, receives Pikachu as his Pokemon from Professor Oak.
However, when exposed to a Thunderstone, the lovable, yellow, furry, rodent-like creature evolves into the final form of Raichu.
Raichu looks quite similar to Pikachu, but with a few distinct characteristics, namely its tail, ears, and dark coloration of the tip of its paws.
Do Pokemon Cards Hold Value
As long as you keep your cards in good condition by sleeving them and getting extras so that you can play the cards you like, while storing away your collectibles safely, then they have a good chance of appreciating in value.
The most common cards are going to appreciate the least, if at all. Remember, collectability depends on rarity. The less prints that were produced of a specific card, as well as the materials and extras then the more desirable the card and card sets are going to be.
Even with the more common cards, while they may not appreciate much, they certainly wont go down in value because even these cards are produced in limited amounts. Its smart marketing and it helps to ensure that Pokémon collections will vary in their content and always remain collectible even with the relatively weak cards that get phased out of play!
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How Much Are Your Pokemon Cards Worth
Use Mavin to see how much your Pokemon cards are worth. Mavin tells you what its worth based on similar cards that have recently sold online.
Youll need these details:
For example Dragonite 52/108 foil
Whether The Pokemon Card Is Useful For Players
Some Pokemon cards have attack/defence stats or special abilities that are especially valuable to people who play the Pokemon trading card game, as they can use them in battle against other players.
This is why certain trainer cards and ultra rare cards sometimes spike in value unexpectedly.
Most often, Pokemon battlers play with the newest cards, so your card will need to be from a recent set if its in demand from Pokemon players.
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How To Research Pokmon Card Prices
If youre looking to maximize your return on selling your Pokémon cards, you will need to do your research. Blindly selling individual cards without doing the legwork on Pokémon card value could end up selling yourself short and giving a collector a great deal.
The best way to research Pokémon card prices is to look at real life selling history. After all, Pokémon cards are only worth what someone is willing to pay. Check out these three resources to see what your Pokémon cards are worth:
- eBay has the largest collection of Pokémon cards for sale online
- Pokemonprices.com is regularly updated with eBay and Amazon card selling data to reflect the average price of specific cards
- TCGPlayer is an online store for buying and selling trading cards, with card prices that reflect the average sale price of said cards within the TCGPlayer store
If you have a lot of Pokémon cards but dont want to go through the hassle of selling individual items, there are places where you can sell Pokémon cards in bulk. Just know that youll be leaving money on the table if you choose to go this route.
Which Is The Most Expensive First Edition Pokemon Card
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.
Even the weakest Pokemon cards can go up in value if theyre rare, scarce or are simply unique enough. If a pristine Super Mario Bros. cartridge can sell for $660,000 then it makes sense for Logan Paul to pay millions for unopened booster packs that could potentially score him an even bigger fortune.
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Holographic First Edition Machamp
Almost any Holographic First Edition card from the original collection can hit a record-setting price compared to other rare cards.
However, the price varies immensely since its not well known by many Pokemon fans. In addition, its auction rate differs due to its quality. So, you can sell it for as high as $8,000-$6,000 or even $200 if the quality is low.
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.
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Shiny Secret Rare Charizard V
There are tons of new cards available today, which attracts high price tags. This card is also new in the card game business, known for its shiny black scales.
It has risen so fast that its worth is around $500 and more, depending on the site you choose to patronize. Similarly, online sites like TCG Player have attached the same price tag, also $500.
Pokmon World Championships Promo No 2 Trainer
One of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time, with only 3 known to exist
Sold for $110,100 in February 2021
Image: PWCC
Like its equally rare and expensive Trainer trophy cards, the 2006 No. 2 Trainer is one of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time, with only a small handful of cards ever made.
Given as a trophy card to finalists of the Pokémon World Championships held in Anaheim, California during August 2006, in order to claim the card, players had to gain entry to the tournament by collecting enough points to qualify and then make it into the finals of their divisions.
Just three copies of the 2006 No. 2 Trainer are believed to exist, easily making it one of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence. Its rarity also means it commands a high price, with a copy graded at Mint 9 condition by PSA selling for just over $110,000 in February 2021.
The card itself features fan-favourite Pokémon Pikachu holding aloft a silver trophy, finished with a holographic pattern. The card reads: If you won this card at the 2006 Pokémon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 2007.
No. 2 Trainers rarity and value put it close to the legendarily expensive No. 1 Trainer in terms of rare Pokémon cards – making it one of Pokémons most sought-after cards.
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