A retired British man who bought Pokemon cards to share his young son's hobby has sold the collection for about 1.56 million pounds, or roughly 2.8 billion won, after leaving it untouched in his attic for some 15 years. One set he had bought for a few hundred pounds sold for more than 100 million won — 250 times what he paid.
Pokemon Cards Stored in Attic for 15 Years Fetch 2.8 Billion Won
A retired interior decorator from Woking, Surrey, in England sold his Pokemon card collection for a total of 1.56 million pounds, or about 2.8 billion won, at the local auction house Ewbank's, according to the BBC and other British media on the 25th.
The auction house had initially estimated the collection would bring in 250,000 to 270,000 pounds, or about 440 million to 480 million won. The final total came in roughly six times higher.
The man, who has not been identified, began collecting in the late 1990s. He took an interest after watching his young son trade Pokemon cards with schoolmates.
Rather than buying cards at random, he decided it made more sense to buy complete sets containing every card in a series. He went on to purchase multiple sets through the online marketplace eBay, including from sellers in Malaysia.
He organized the cards in custom-made Pokemon binders. When his son lost interest in Pokemon, the collection was moved to the attic, where it stayed for about 15 years.
"My son had his own cards, and he was never allowed to touch the ones I collected," the man said. "People talk about finding treasure in the attic, and that is exactly what happened to me."
A Card Bought for 300 Pounds Sells for 75,000 Pounds as Global Bidders Compete
The man learned the value of his collection from an article in a local newspaper, which reported that a single Pokemon card had sold for more than 6,000 pounds, or about 10 million won.
Recalling that he owned several cards of the same type, he took some of them to the auction house for appraisal.
Experts were struck not only by the condition of the cards but also by the scale of the collection. All 42 sets were complete, and they had been exceptionally well preserved. The man decided to put 41 of the sets up for auction and keep one.
The top lot was a Legendary Collection complete master set that included a card of the popular character Charizard. Estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 pounds, it sold for 100,000 pounds, or about 180 million won.
One set the man had bought for 300 pounds, about 500,000 won, sold for 75,000 pounds, or about 133 million won. That is 250 times what he paid.
Collectors, investors and YouTubers from around the world took part in the sale. Commission bids submitted the day before the auction alone totaled 825,000 pounds, or about 1.46 billion won.
James Spooner of the auction house said every card was in top condition and that it was hard to believe the owner had no idea of their value.
The sale was the highest-grossing single auction in Ewbank's more than 30 years in business. The company said it also set a record for the highest total at a trading card auction in Britain.
Why Childhood Pokemon Cards Became So Valuable
Experts point to nostalgia as the reason for the growing popularity of Pokemon cards.
Children who played with Pokemon in the 1990s are now in their 30s and 40s with spending power, and they are returning to the collectibles of their youth.
Andrew Ewbank, who conducted the auction, said the generation that first encountered Pokemon has reached an age where it has disposable income, and that childhood memories are driving the collecting boom.
The Pokemon card market is substantial in size. The Financial Times reported last month, citing data from the card trading data platform Chase Society, that Pokemon cards authenticated and graded for condition by professional appraisal firms are worth about $9 billion, or roughly 12 trillion won.
Not every Pokemon card commands a high price, however. Values vary widely depending on whether a card is rare, whether it has been kept free of damage and whether it is part of a complete set.
At this auction as well, the condition of cards left untouched for years, the rarity of the sets and strong demand from collectors worldwide are credited with producing the record prices.