You’d have to have grown up in a cave on a remote island not to know the trading card game that has gone from casual pastime to collecting phenomenon during its relatively short lifetime. Now, chasing some of the rarest and most popular cards issued over the last 20-plus years have collectors and fans to the most watched Pokémon card auctions on eBay.
Whether seeking out sets, bulk lots, high-grade 1st edition cards, shadowless cards, error cards and other rarities or maybe even rare unopened boxes, the market has become a vibrant one. Daily card sales on eBay have skyrocketed.
Grading Pokémon cards has become a phenomenon on its own and it’s the graded cards that have given rise to some of the best eBay Pokémon auctions. PSA, a division of Collectors Universe, has now graded over one million Pokémon cards, most within the last few years. Pokémon Go has played a big role in resurrecting Pokémon mania.
“Every generation defines what is nostalgic to them,” says Collectors Universe President Joe Orlando. “Pokémon started its rise in the U.S. during the late 1990s. Today, the young people who were playing the classic game then are now well into adulthood. As a result, the game has enjoyed a kind of rebirth in the hobby. That fact coupled with the continued global popularity of the game enabled PSA to reach the million-card milestone.”
That one millionth card was the Full Art Charizard GX card (#SV49) from the 2019 Pokemon Sun and Moon Hidden Fates expansion set. It’s a colorful card depicting the popular monster, initiating a powerful 300 HP attack using its Crimson Storm. This Charizard example was featured in its alternate and rare ‘shiny’ black color. It received PSA’s highest grade of Gem Mint 10.
That milestone together with some of the major selling prices for rare Pokémon cards that have been reported in the international media have driven even more people to the market. In 2019, a very scarce Pikachu Illustrator card was auctioned for nearly $200,000.
According to eBay, There were over 19 million searches for Pokémon on the website in 2019 and more than 500,000 Pokémon cards sold during that period.
Top 5 Most Expensive Pokémon Trading Cards:
1. Pokémon Ultimate Charizard Collection, PSA10/9, 1st Edition – $18,500
2. 2005 Japanese Umbreon Play Promo Gold Star Holo, PSA10 Gem Mint – $15,000
3. 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard, PSA9/10 – $14,500
4. 1999 Pokémon Game 1st Edition Holographic Charizard [4/102] – $14,000
5. Pokémon Japanese 20th Anniversary 24k Gold Pikachu Promo Card Giza Tanaka – $12,500
Below is a live list of the 100 most watched Pokémon card auctions on eBay. This real-time rundown is automatically updated multiple times each day. It will give collectors and dealers a good idea of the most popular Pokémon cards in the market at any one given moment.
To see all Pokémon cards and merchandise on eBay click here.
