Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Cards

When you consider some of the most famous trading card games around the world over the past 25 years, Yu-Gi-Oh! is certainly one of the most well-known examples. It is no surprise that there have been some very valuable and desirable cards that have been released over the years, to the extent that they have become highly sought-after by collectors and fans alike.

If you’re looking to sell Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, or hoping to start a collection, our auctions at Cullens of Surrey are the perfect place to get started. Our team, led by trading card enthusiast Derrick, demonstrates extensive expertise in the trading card department to ensure you get the best auction experience every time you buy or sell with us.

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Background Information

Yu-Gi-Oh! Was created in 1996 by Japanese Manga author-illustrator Kazuki Takahashi, and featured regularly in the magazine “Shonen Jump”. The game is based on an ordinary high-school student, Yugi Moto, who gains mystical powers when playing a mystery card game. This was the inspiration for the real-life card game which followed in 1999, alongside television episodes and video games.

To date, there are over 11,000 different cards in Yu-Gi-Oh!, which consist of the main types of cards (monster, spell and trap) alongside other miscellaneous cards that have been released. The game has become so popular over time that there are official “world championship tournaments” annually in Japan, where the best players come up against each other to win a series of coveted prizes.

High-Value Sales

There have been several high-profile sales of the rarest Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, especially in recent years. For competitive players, the rarer the card, the more powerful it usually is, providing a huge competitive advantage.

Perhaps the most notable, high-value card of all is the “Black Luster Soldier”. There are versions of this card which are neither rare nor valuable, but the winner of the inaugural “Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters 1” tournament was awarded a stainless steel version of the card, valued at $10 million (£8,031,000), making it the most valuable trading card ever. Despite the normal versions of the Black Luster Soldier being legal for tournament play, this special version is banned from competitive use.

Fun Fact

Perhaps the most wholesome reason for a valuable card, a young boy named Tyler was granted the chance to design his own Yu-Gi-Oh! card by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, during his battle with a rare liver cancer, which he triumphantly overcame! His card, named “Tyler the Great Warrior”, is currently valued at $311,000 (£249,764).

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

Sadly, scammers are capable of making super-realistic counterfeit Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, meaning people can fall into the trap of paying large fees for fake cards. We offer a comprehensive appraisal service for trading cards, but it is also worth knowing the signs of a fake card yourself, so you can avoid the chances of acquiring 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 misspellingsare 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.

Looking to Sell With Us?

If you have a collection of Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards that you’re looking to sell, or any other trading cards, we offer various routes, such as at auction, direct purchasing or third-party sellers. You can read about each selling route in more detail on our dedicated “Selling At Auction” page.

Join Us for Our Live Online Auctions

Buying and selling at auction is an exciting process, and at Cullens of Surrey, we aim to make your experience a memorable one. Explore our upcoming auctions, or get in touch with us if you have any lasting questions about how our auctions work.

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