Pokémon cards set to soar in value as new release to launch this week – see how much YOURS could be worth

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POKEMON cards gathering dust in cupboards and attic could be worth a small fortune – and a new release set to launch this week could boost their value further.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is marking its 30th anniversary with a special 30th Celebration expansion launching worldwide on Wednesday, September 16.

The release is expected to reignite interest in the hugely popular trading cards, and experts say the renewed attention could push up demand for older and rarer versions.

The new game expansion includes brand new artwork as well as a “classic collection” of cards from the game’s history.

Every booster pack will contain five foil cards, plus a foil Basic Energy card, and is guaranteed to include one of 30 different Pikachu cards.

But it is older cards tucked away in collections from decades ago that could prove particularly valuable even now.

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Interest in Pokémon cards has already reached extraordinary levels. Earlier this year, YouTuber Logan Paul sold a Pikachu Illustrator card for around £12million.

The ultra-rare card was originally awarded as a prize in a Japanese illustration competition in the 1990s and Logan’s copy is the only known example to have received a perfect PSA 10 grade.

Its February sale set a record for any trading card sold at auction – not just a Pokémon card.

Mr Denley said: “It sounds absurd until you recognise the buyer isn’t paying for cardboard, but extreme scarcity attached to one of the world’s most recognisable franchises.”

Of course, the chances of finding a £12million card in your cupboard are very small. But more ordinary ‘rare’ cards can still be worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

For example, a complete 1999 Base Set containing all 102 cards including Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur, which are popular from the first generation of games, sold on eBay earlier this year for £849.99.

Meanwhile, nine older Pokémon cards including Base Set versions of Charizard, Venusaur and Blastoise sold at auction in April for £1,000.

And specialist Pokémon price tracker CardRadar, which monitors UK eBay prices, currently lists some individual cards in the thousands of pounds.

Among the highest-priced cards it tracks are a Pokémon Rumble Pikachu at around £1,290 and an Evolving Skies Rayquaza VMAX at around £1,109, although the value of individual cards changes regularly.

What makes a card valuable?

Just because your card is old does not automatically mean you’ve hit the jackpot. Collectors look at a number of factors when deciding how much they are prepared to pay.

Rarity is one of the most important. Certain early versions of cards, as well as promotional cards and tournament prize cards, were produced in unusually small numbers, which means there are fewer around.

So, they can command far higher prices than mass-produced versions.

And keep an eye out for first edition cards, which can carry a small “First Edition” stamp. That can make them very popular.

Some early Pokémon cards are also known as “shadowless” cards because they lack the shadow effect around the picture box found on later versions.

Condition can be just as important. Cards with creases, scratches, faded colours or damaged edges will generally be worth considerably less than those in top condition.

Cards can be professionally graded by specialist companies, with a score indicating their condition. A top grade can dramatically increase the amount collectors are willing to pay for an already rare card.

Nouran Moustafa, a finance expert at Roxton Wealth, said: “The 30th anniversary could bring an entirely new wave of attention into the market.

“Adults who opened Pokémon packs as children now have mortgages, salaries and disposable income, and suddenly the card sitting in their childhood bedroom is not just cardboard, it is a piece of their past.”

She said this renewed demand could “potentially push prices higher”, particularly for genuinely scarce cards in exceptional condition.

She added: “However, card being old, shiny or having Pikachu on it does not automatically make it valuable.

“Condition, edition, scarcity, grading and actual buyer demand matter enormously.”

How to check what your cards are worth

If you’ve unearthed an old collection of cards, resist the temptation to immediately stick it online for a high price.

First, identify exactly which version of the card you own.

Look at the card number, which is usually printed near the bottom, as different versions of the same Pokémon can have very different values.

Then check whether it has any first-edition markings, unusual printing features or promotional stamps.

You can then search recently sold listings on marketplaces such as eBay to see what other buyers have actually paid for the same card.

This is more useful than looking at asking prices, as sellers can list cards for any amount they choose – but it doesn’t mean they will actually sell.

Specialist card-tracking websites and auction houses can also help provide an indication of value.

For cards that appear particularly rare or valuable, it may be worth getting advice from a specialist before selling.