As Pokémon card values continue to skyrocket worldwide one simple question emerges - how many people could unknowingly be sitting on a goldmine?
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With a collection of about 2,500 cards - not including doubles - Central West's Tegan Perry certainly could be.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game has always had a cult following but it roared back into the mainstream eye during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly after news of one card selling for almost $300,000 circulated.
That was bought my US rapper-turned-Youtube Logic, the record-breaking sale was one example of the many prominent celebrities and influencers who have pumped money into the trading card market recently.
Their investment has contributed to the value of rare cards exploding and it's helped sparked a wave of interest among those with big collections everywhere, including Mrs Perry.
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Like so many though, she admits to not being sure how to get her cards graded for condition and rarity which is considered the best benchmark for valuations.
"I started collecting cards about 20 years, when I was in year five," Mrs Perry, now 32, said.
"I've always been of aware of there being high-value cards and I have a lot that I've tried to keep in mint condition, by keeping them in folders in storage.
"So I'd be interested to see how much my collection could be worth. I prefer collecting the older, harder-to-find cards than the new decks. I'd like to know if it's worth continuing to collect them or it's worth selling."
Game Addict Australia owner Matt Harris has been in the business since 2012 and said it's common for less devout collectors to be unaware of grading services available. Particularly considering the most prominent companies offering the service aren't based in Australia.
I've been aware of there being high-value cards and I have a lot that I've tried to keep in mint condition.
- Tegan Perry
There are a number of businesses, like his, that provide a facilitation service though.
"No gradings really carry the same weight as those from US-based companies like Professional Sports Authenticator or Beckett, so we send cards away to them," Mr Harris said.
"Bear in mind you don't need to have a card graded to sell it but it does provide an immediate benchmark for the value, which helps people avoid under-selling a card which has become a big danger recently.
"In fact I used to recommend people go to social media groups and pages to get a gauge on what they might have, but since the hobby exploded again we're seeing a lot of scalpers around now who will take advantage and force those under-sales."
He suggested the best place to start is to, simply, contact a company that offers facilitation. There are other ways people can get an indication on condition grading and value though.
"A great place to look is eBay's sold listings. You can search specific cards and compare your collection against what is selling," he said.
There is a number of prominent websites that offer guides to loosely grade cards yourself too, while information on rarity is readily available online.
Scratches, wear and tear, print focus, bending and image centering are among factors considering in condition gradings, they also play a role in determining how rare a card is.
For example, that record-breaking card Logic bought is what's called a holographic, base-set, first-edition, shadowless Charizard and its condition was rated by PSA as a Gem Mint 10 - essentially perfect.
In that condition the card is considered the collector's holy grail, there's only a handful in circulation worldwide.
"You might be surprised how many people have Charizard cards in good condition though - not 10s, but good condition - and there's still value in them because they're the cards everyone wants," Mr Harris said.
"I've seen half a dozen graded as a PSA 6 or PSA 7, one was owned by a truck driver who just stumbled across his old collection. That's pretty common, a lot of people who were big on it in the 1990s or 2000s have come back to it now they've got kids or have found their old cards.
"It's an exciting time to be involved. I wonder what might happen if it crashes, because it is like a stock-market, but it's really exciting right now."
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