Pokémon card collection sells for £1.56 million at UK auction

A retired decorator from Woking, Surrey, has become a millionaire after his Pokémon card collection sold for £1.56 million ($2.09 million) at Ewbank’s Auctions. The collection, consisting of 42 complete sets from the late 1990s, had been stored in his attic for approximately 15 years.

The owner, who requested anonymity, began collecting the cards as a potential investment after watching his son trade them at school in the late 1990s. He realized the potential value of his collection only after reading a local news report about a single card selling for over £6,000.

The auction featured several high-value items, most notably a ‘Legendary Collection Complete Master Set’ containing a rare Charizard card, which sold for £100,000, far exceeding its initial estimate of £15,000 to £20,000. Ewbank’s described the sale as the most valuable auction of collectible cards ever held in the United Kingdom, potentially setting a European record.

Experts noted the collection was in nearly perfect condition, having been carefully preserved in original binders. The sale highlights a growing trend where vintage collectibles are increasingly viewed as alternative financial assets, with some market indices suggesting Pokémon cards have seen significant value growth comparable to major technology stocks.