One of the world's biggest franchises would have to be Pokemon, ranging from mangas (Japanese comic books), anime series and movies, countless games for consoles and phones, and a trading card game.
A 'Holy Grail' for Collectors
Back in the day, the Pokemon Trading Card set wasn't that big of a deal, but now, a complete set is worth tens of thousands and is deemed as a collector's item--and one lucky father in England owns a complete set.
According to a report by the Daily Mail, a Sutton Coldfield-local named Nigel Brookes was gifted a complete set of Pokemon Trading Card set for his 13th birthday in 1999 as a gift from his parents when he stood up for his younger brother, Jeremey, from bullies who were trying to con him of his best cards.
Brookes said he wasn't a fan of Pokemon when he received the then-£300 (around $379.
"I was disappointed at the time because the collection was one of my birthday presents, so to me it was a waste of a present," the 34-year-old said.
Luckily, the young Brookes didn't throw away his cards, but he did set them aside for a long time, thinking they might be worth something in the future--and he was right.
Read Also : 'Pokemon G.O.' Fest 2020 Weekly Challenge Guide: The Last Week of Challenge Focuses on Friendship
Trading Cards Worth Thousands of Dollars
As it turns out, the 103-card collection in "pristine" condition is deemed as the "Holy Grail for serious Pokemon aficionados" and is already worth £35,000 or around $44,000 in the U.S., and Brookes will be selling them to a collector "who will take care of them."
The card includes two versions of a first-generation Pikachu, namely card 58a known as the "Red Cheek Pikachu" and card 58b, which is the "Yellow Cheek Pikachu," most likely increasing its overall value.
Besides the fact that all the cards are in mint condition, they were all first edition and were bought straight from creators Wizards of the Coast in the U.S., which explains the hefty price.
But as it turned out, someone asked to buy the entire Pokemon Trading Card collection from Brookes for around $9--his daughter, Layla, who loves the franchise.
"Unfortunately that won't cut it, and I'm sure she'll appreciate why I said no in the future," Brookes explained, and surely, his daughter would be happy as he said he decided to sell the collection to bring his children on holiday together in the near future.
It Could Double Its Price in the Future
Nevertheless, he did say that it was hard to let go of the card set as he believes the price would double up in another 20 years, but he did say he wanted his kids to have a special childhood.
Additionally, the man was "scared" of having the collection, as it could be damaged easily or lost or ruined in any way--something that would significantly decrease its value.
For fans of the franchise, Brookes' complete Pokemon Trading Card set will be auctioned by the Richard Winterton Auctioneers on July 27 at 4 p.m. in England's time, live from The Lichfield Auction Centre.
