A retired painter and decorator in the UK has become a multi-millionaire after discovering and selling a forgotten Pokémon card collection for £1.56 million (approximately $2.09 million USD).
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, only remembered the collection after reading a news story about a single card selling for thousands of pounds. This prompted him to investigate his attic, where he found the long-stored binders.
He began collecting Pokémon cards in the late 1990s, inspired by his son's interest. While his son eventually lost interest, the collector continued, even purchasing complete sets on eBay. However, about 15 years ago, the binders were stored away in the loft, and he largely forgot about them.
Upon rediscovering the collection, he took it to Ewbank’s auction house. The auction house reported that the collection, which included numerous master sets, was their most successful sale in 30 years. Among the notable items were a complete Legendary Collection master set, which sold for £130,000 against a pre-auction estimate of £15,000 to £20,000, and a full set of the Skyridge cards, originally purchased for £300, that fetched £97,500. Another master set from Aquapolis, despite some cards being in mixed condition, sold for £49,500 against an estimate of £15,000.
The collection also contained other valuable sets such as EX Team Rocket, EX Delta Species, EX Deoxys, and a complete Pop Series binder.