A retired decorator from Woking has become a millionaire after auctioning a collection of Pokémon cards for £1.56 million at Ewbank's auction house in Surrey. The collection, stored in an attic for 15 years and comprising 42 mint-condition sets, was sold in what Ewbank's described as the UK's most valuable trading cards auction ever, potentially setting a European record. The top lot, a Legendary Collection Complete Master Set including a near-mint Charizard card, sold for £100,000, far exceeding its estimated value.
The seller, who initially bought some sets on eBay and was unaware of their worth until reading about high-value sales, highlighted the cards' sentimental and financial value. Ewbank's noted the current boom in Pokémon collectibles, attributing it to nostalgia among adults who grew up with the franchise and now have disposable income. The auction's success underscores the growing market for vintage trading cards and the potential hidden value in personal collections.
Read the full story: BBC UK News.
Source: BBC UK News. Aggregated summary, not independent reporting.