Pokémon Rarities Set To Fetch £15,000 Each in Ewbank’s £66,000 Debut Trading Cards Auction on August 25
UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / August 19, 2021 / Two extremely rare sealed items from the Pokémon trading card game, each valued at up to £15,000, will headline the launch sale of Ewbank’s Auctions’ new Trading Cards department on August 25.
The Pokémon TCG sealed Base Set Booster boxes each date to 1999 and come in the original shrink wrap, containing 36 sealed booster packs. The vendor has kept them in mint condition since running the gift shop where these were kept as wholesale products.
“Base Set is the first ever Pokémon set released in English back in 1999 and features some of the most expensive and iconic cards such as Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur,” says specialist Roy Raftery, one of the UK’s leading experts on trading cards. “Both boxes are sealed, authenticated and in immaculate condition.”
Another collection consigned here comes from a former employee of Wizards of the Coast – distributors of Pokémon – who worked for the company in the 1990s.
The 190-plus lot auction will also present numerous other rarities, with estimates outside the two star items ranging from just a few pounds up to £1,800. In all, Ewbank’s expect the auction to make around £66,000.
As well as sealed booster packs and special issues like the Southern Island Collection, all estimated for between £200 and £800 each, the sale will offer complete sets of various issues as well as individual cards, led by a Team Rocket Expansion – 1st edition Dark Blastoise holo card in near mint condition, which is expected to fetch up to £120.
“The Team Rocket expansion is the fourth Pokémon set released way back in 2000,” says Raftery. “This auction contains a complete set of 83 cards, including all the Holo foils and the secret Holo, Dark Raichu all in 1st edition! A complete Team Rocket set of near mint 1st edition cards recently sold for £2,400 at auction.”
Bidders in the auction will also be able to compete for trading cards from Magic The Gathering, Yu-gi-oh!, Harry Potter and Star Wars. Some of the Magic the Gathering highlights include sealed theme decks and tournament decks going as far back as the Urza’s Saga expansion.
“Pokémon, Harry Potter and other games may be relatively new concepts, but the tradition of Trading Cards goes back generations, as the US baseball cards demonstrate,” says partner Andrew Ewbank.
“It’s important for auction houses to diversify and remain relevant to all ages of buyer, so we are delighted to be able to offer this exciting range of rarities to a whole new cross section of clients, using the best expertise on offer.
“The global collectable card game market is expected to reach $18 billion by 2025, starting from a base of around $10 billion in 2019, which shows just how important this area of interest is to collectors.”
• Ewbank’s Sports & Entertainment Memorabilia department is the company’s leading specialist department, with £1.6m in auction sales in 2020. Recent highlights include the Football Memorabilia of former Manchester United captain Norman Whiteside and the Bray Studios sale of Gerry Anderson memorabilia.
Box
One of the two Pokémon TCG Sealed Base Set Booster boxes dating to 1999 on offer in Ewbank’s launch sale dedicated to trading cards. Sealed in WOTC original shrink wrap (and containing 36 sealed booster packs). The estimate is £10,000-15,000 for each box.
Rocket
Pokémon’s 1st Edition Team Rocket expansion, a complete full set in near-mint condition. The set includes Dark Alakazam holo, Dark Arbok holo card, Dark Blastoise holo card, Dark Charizard holo card etc. 83 cards plus Dark Raichu secret rare. The estimate is £1,200-1,800.
Starter
Pokémon TCG Base Set Two Player Starter Decks sealed in display / brick. Contains Eight Two Player Starter Decks (comes with sealed decks and a sealed 1st edition Machamp), all sealed. The estimate is £1,000-1,500.
Magic
Wizards of the Coast. Two Magic The Gathering. Urzas Legacy 'Time Drain' theme decks, sealed in original packaging. The estimate is £80-120.
Dark Blastoise
Pokémon. Team Rocket Expansion – 1st edition Dark Blastoise holo, in near-mint condition. The estimate is £80-120.
Dark Raichu
Pokémon. Team Rocket Expansion 1st edition Dark Raichu, holo in near-mint condition. The estimate is £50-80.
Base set
Pokémon TCG Base Set artwork display, three sealed Base Set Booster packs – complete artwork set: Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur. 1999. The estimate is £500-800.
About Us
Ewbank’s Auctions
Ewbank’s are the Premier International Antiques and Fine Art Valuers and Auctioneers covering Surrey and South London, holding quarterly Fine Auctions; and regular specialist sales of Jewellery, Silver, Clocks, Watches and Instruments, Fine Art, Ceramics, Antique Furniture and Works of Art. We also hold specialist auctions throughout the year, including Entertainment and Memorabilia, 20th Century Art and Design, Asian Art, Militaria, Garden and Architectural, Textiles, Fine Wine and others. Ewbank’s also hold monthly Antique and Collectors’ auctions. As Surrey’s leading independent auctioneers, we pride ourselves on being a family firm providing the best service, knowledge and expertise.
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