Pokémon: The old trading cards worth thousands including shiny Charizard for £141k - do you own any of them?

Pokémon fans could unknowingly have trading cards from the franchise stashed away without realising they are sitting on a small fortune.

If you collected Pokémon trading cards as a kid and happen to have any still knocking around gathering dust, you could be about to to find yourself better off. First edition Pokémon cards are some of the most highly sought after collectables due to their limited print run, and the fact that only a small number of people will ever get the chance to own them.

Despite this, many people unknowingly have copies of these cards stashed away - without realising they could be sitting on a small fortune. According to Hearts Land, one particular card might land you a life-changing £141,000.

The online card game site analysed pricing data from PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) to reveal the most valuable first edition Pokémon cards and how much you can expect to make. It considered versions of the cards that are in both “perfect condition” (GEM - MT10), which is a visually flawless copy of the card, as well as “near mint cards” (NM 7), which might have some slight surface wear.

A spokesperson for the site said: “Even during their release more than 20 years ago, first edition cards offered varying levels of rarity, with holographic or “shiny” cards being the most highly prized, due to their limited appearance in Pokémon packs. Those who have managed to hold onto copies with limited wear and tear, could cash them in now for a huge return, particularly if they happen to own some of these rarer cards.

“While some might be holding out until a resurgence in Pokémon mania before selling their cards, now is a better time than any to get your collection valuated, even if you don’t happen to have any first edition cards.” Here are the ten most valuable Pokémon cards and how to check if you own one.

The ten most valuable Pokémon cards

Charizard (Holo) - £141,882

Taking the top spot is the holographic Charizard, with an estimated resale value of £141,882 for a gem mint condition copy of the card. Considered one of the most sought-after cards ever, PSA reports one was last sold at collectables marketplace Goldins in January 2022 for $252,000 (£196,560).

A near mint condition (NM 7) copy of the card could still net you a cool a £5,850 if you happen to have one collecting dust in your cupboard.

Blastoise (Holo) - £30,108

Taking second place is the holographic Blastoise with an estimated resale value of £30,108. A gem mint copy of this water type Pokémon card sold for $23,433 (£18,278) on Ebay in January this year, according to PSA. A NM 7 holographic Blastoise is one to hold on to, valued at around £1,092.

Items from the Pokemon card collection of Jens Ishoey Prehn and his brother Per Ishoy Nielsen are displayed in Niva, eastern Denmark on November 25, 2022. Photo for illustrative purposes.

Chansey (Holo) - £25,740

A holographic Chansey in gem mint condition has a value of £25,740, making it the third most valuable first edition card. While a perfect copy of this card last sold for $27,412 (£21,381) on eBay, a NM 7 grade copy is likely to only make you around £273 according to PSA price estimates.

Mewtwo (Holo) - £16,068

The psychic-type holographic Mewtwo is the only legendary Pokémon on this list and ranked as the fourth most valuable card with an estimated value of £16,068 for a gem mint copy of the card. However, if you own a copy that is less than perfect there is a huge price drop off, with NM 7 Mewtwo (Holo) valued at around £390.

Venusaur (Holo) - £15,600

Ranking fifth is the holographic Venusaur, with a gem mint copy of the card valued at £15,600. This card manages to retain much more of its value even if not in perfect condition, with a near mint copy of the card netting £780.

This makes it the third most valuable near mint condition card on the list, behind the holographic Charizard (£5,850) and Blastoise (£1,092).

You could be sitting on a small fortune if you have any Pokemon cards knocking around.