At the "Trading Card Games and Manga Signature Auction" held by renowned US auction house Heritage Auctions from June 26-27, a complete collection of all 102 cards from the Pokémon First Edition Base Set, all graded PSA Gem Mint 10 (the highest possible rating), sold for an astonishing $1,218,750 (approximately ¥199.55 million JPY). The mind-blowing price instantly set the internet ablaze!
Officials confirmed that this isn't just a new historical high for the set in a public auction; it also pushed the total auction proceeds to a staggering $7,894,456 (approximately ¥1.29 billion JPY). This figure surpasses the previous record of $7,620,617 set in March 2026, marking a new all-time high for Heritage Auctions' trading card sales.
The Pokémon First Edition Base Set, which went under the hammer, was the original English-language Pokémon card series launched by Wizards of the Coast in 1999. For many international players, this was their gateway into the world of Pokémon cards.
What makes this particular set so extraordinary is that all 102 cards received a PSA Gem Mint 10 rating. PSA Gem Mint 10 is the highest possible grade awarded by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), a globally recognized third-party grading service.
The grading process meticulously evaluates several standards, including card corners, surface quality, print quality, and centering of the artwork. Achieving a single PSA 10 card is incredibly difficult, let alone collecting an entire 102-card set where every single card hits that top-tier grade. Considering this set is now 27 years old, its collectible value in the market is only set to soar even higher.
Jesus Garcia, Managing Director of Trading Card Games at Heritage Auctions, stated, "Simply assembling all 102 cards from the 1999 First Edition Base Set is an incredible achievement in itself."
He further elaborated, "To have every single one of those cards achieve the PSA Gem Mint 10 highest grade is an almost unbelievable feat. Completing such a collection demands not only years of passionate dedication but also significant time, financial investment, and astonishing patience."
For many players, these cards aren't just childhood memories; they hold both cultural and investment value. This auction result once again underscores the undeniable power of Pokémon cards in the global collectibles market.
via： PR TIMES