Turning Pokémon to Profit: Why Memorabilia Is the New Way to Invest
Beating out classic cars, luxury watches, and whiskey,
Raisin UK has just put together an interesting report on alternative investments that’s sure to interest you.
While watches and whiskey have long been favored by auction houses, it seems that the categories retro gaming, trading cards, and comic books all outperform the two mentioned above including rare trainers, classic cars, and handbags. For example, an unopened Nintendo Entertainment Systems could bring in something close to $120,000 USD, or that limited edition World of Warcraft game you bought in 2004 for $80 USD could be worth $765.20 USD today, or $4,041 USD if you’ve left it unopened.
A crazier example is the 13-cent Action Comics #1 from 1938 that sold in 2014 for $2.9 million USD. On top of the recent explosion of Pokémon TCG, where First Edition Charizards are breaking the quarter-million USD mark, sports cards are also having their moment. Cards like the 1909 Honus Wagner, which sold for $49.88 USD in 1993, have generated a 74,000-times return, selling at a more recent price of $3,700,000 USD.
With these numbers, it might be best to check your parents’ attic/basement to see if you’re in possession of a potential treasure trove. Take a look at how each category stacks in the chart above.
In other trading card news, eBay is testing out $1 USD shipping for trading cards.
