Pokémon Trading Cards Auctions

Pokémon trading cards are highly sought after. They are often valuable collectables, especially due to the nostalgia attached to them. It is not uncommon to come across Pokémon trading cards at auction houses and at Cullens, our dedication to the intricate world of trading cards extends beyond valuation. Derrick, our seasoned valuer, has over a decade of passion and specialised knowledge of Pokémon trading cards. He and the rest of our team, not only possess extensive expertise but also share an unwavering enthusiasm for them.

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Background Information: Pokémon

In 2021, for the 25th anniversary of Pokémon, the BBC wrote an article discussing the history of Pokémon, highlighting its rise to fame through the years. Pokémon was invented by Japanese duo Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori, and, in 1996, under the name “Pocket Monsters”, a game was released in both a red and green version for Gameboy in Japan. The game officially reached the UK in 1999, a year after it was released in the US.

Following the huge success of the first games in Japan, a company known as Media Factory created the popular trading cards which we see today, releasing 102 cards on October 20th 1996. Since these cards were so popular, they reached UK and US shores in 1999, and, very shortly after, they were worldwide. Since then, over 30 billion Pokémon trading cards have been printed!

High-Value Sales

It is no surprise that, over the years, some of these cards have sold for huge sums of money, given the rarity and demand of some of the most popular Pokémon cards. The original cards released, known as the Pokémon Base Set, are highly sought after and very rare, but they do occasionally appear in auction houses.

In fact, at Cullens, we have sold a complete, light-played to near mint Pokémon Base Set, which included the fan favourite Pokémon Charizard (pictured), graded in a PSA 7 (we will explain the PSA grading system later). The base set and PSA 7 Charizard had a pre-auction estimate of £300-£500 and sold for £710 including premiums.

We also directly purchased a childhood collection from an owner who only sought £70. They were incredibly happy when we checked over the cards to unearth a Holo Skyridge Gyarados and Crobat, offering £350 for the small collection!

If you’re a Pokémon collector, keep an eye on our auction pages, as we regularly sell Pokémon trading cards, all of which vary in rarity and value.

What Our Customers Say About Working With Us

“I had a really good experience with Cullens of Surrey selling assorted Pokemon cards. They responded promptly to my initial email and gave an estimated value which was then refined when the cards arrived with them. The cards were then up for auction within a few days. Great experience and would highly recommend their services.”

Beccy Wishart

“Had a really great experience selling Pokémon cards with Cullens of Surrey at auction. They handled the whole process after I sent the cards. Payment was received per their communicated schedule.

I chose Cullens because of their excellent communication. Derrick clearly knows a lot about the markets, and he backs this up with clear, quick and helpful communication.”

John Boutal

“Exceptional, professional service from start to finish. Never having used an auction site, and after researching them online, I phoned Cullens of Surrey, who were very helpful. They kept me informed throughout the process and were always there to answer any queries I had, either by phone or email.

Very pleased with the outcome of the auction of the Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh cards, the money has already been received into my bank account. Many thanks.”

Karen Ellison

Pokémon Card Slabs

Pokémon card slabs are Pokémon cards that have been graded by a professional grading company like PSA or CGC. These provide an added layer of authenticity to the card, denote the condition of the card, and protect it, which can all increase its value.

These are highly sought-after cards, which we see in our collections.

Highlight From Our Recent Pokemon Card Auctions

Lot 124

Pokemon TCG - A group of Holo & Reverse Holo EX Delta Specie...

Hammer £340

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Lot 149

Pokemon TCG - Base Set Holographic Trio Graded includes 1999...

Hammer £360

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Lot 123

Pokemon TCG - Groudon Gold Star EX Delta Species 111/113 Nea...

Hammer £940

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PSA Grading

The PSA Grading System is used amongst collectors and valuers to determine the quality of trading cards and is essential for determining their value. The system follows a number of different scores, considering factors such as how sharp the corners are, the quality of the gloss surface, if there are any stains, and so on. These are the PSA scores for trading cards;

GEM-MT 10: Gem Mint
MINT 9: Mint
NM-MT 8: Near Mint-Mint
NM 7: Near Mint
EX-MT 6: Excellent-Mint
EX 5: Excellent
VG-EX 4: Very Good-Excellent
VG 3: Very Good
GOOD 2: Good
FR 1.5: Fair
PR 1: Poor

Fake Cards

Unfortunately, not every Pokémon trading card out there is genuine, and people can fall into the trap of paying large amounts for fake cards. We offer a comprehensive appraisal service for trading cards, but it is worth knowing the signs of a fake card yourself, so you can avoid the chances of obtaining one.

Avoiding sellers with either no or poor feedback on sites such as eBay is a good first step if you’re purchasing online.
Watch out for aged reprints, where cards are soaked in a liquid to give them a more vintage look; this is a common counterfeit action.
Language errors and misspells are another red flag for fake cards, as well as dodgy-looking borders around the card.
Use a torch to assess the quality of hologram cards, and look to see how thin the card seems; if light passes through easily, this is often a sign that it is fake.

Understand PSA Grading

Looking to Sell With Us?

If you have Pokémon trading cards that you’re looking to sell, or any other collectables, we offer various routes, such as at auction, direct purchasing or third-party sellers. You can read about each selling route in more detail here.

Do You Have Any Further Questions?

At Cullens of Surrey, we have over 15 years of expertise in antiques, mid-century furniture, toys, trading cards and collectables. If you want to know more about our trading card expertise, valuations, or any other parts of antique auctions, please feel free to get in touch with us.

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FAQs

What is a Pokémon card slab?

A Pokémon card slab is a hard plastic case that holds and protects a professionally graded Pokémon card.

Before being “slabbed”, a card is sent to a professional grading company like PSA or CGC (you can see our guide on PSA grading standards here, for more information on this). They evaluate the card’s condition before sealing it inside a tamper-proof plastic case (the slab).

The slab has a label that shows:

The grade (e.g., PSA 10 Gem Mint)
The card’s name and set
A serial number for verification

This then helps authenticate, certify, and protect the card, while helping evaluate its worth.

What is a graded Pokémon card?

A graded Pokémon card is one that has been certified and evaluated for condition by a professional grading company, like PSA, Beckett, or CGC. This certification shows the card's grade, the name and set of the card, the year it was first produced, and the serial number for verification.

Grading a card increases its value, as buyers have a greater degree of certainty of the card's quality and authenticity.

What's the most expensive Pokémon card?

The most expensive single Pokémon card to sell at auction was a first edition holographic shadowless Charizard card, which sold for a whopping $369,000 (around £262,000) in 2020.

How do you get into Pokémon card collecting?

In our guide on the best trading cards to collect, we discuss some of the key points you should remember before you get into Pokémon card collecting:

Join online communities to learn about the cards
Establish and stick to a budget
Start with low-value and affordable packs and cards
Researching and understanding rarity and demand
Knowing the different grading standards
Being aware of counterfeit cards and the risks of collecting
Be aware of market fluctuations, as prices can change rapidly

Pokémon Trading Cards Auctions

Background Information: Pokémon

High-Value Sales