What happened
Sports Illustrated's collectibles section has rounded up the five biggest sales from Pokémon's 30th Celebration release, based on Card Ladder data. The set mixes new designs with Classic Collection reprints of older cards, including cards from the Aquapolis era.
According to the report, the top five so far are:
- Crystal Lugia (Classic Collection), BGS Black Label 10: $18,100 at auction
- Charizard 4/102 (Classic Collection), BGS Black Label 10: $15,000, sold early in the month
- Blue RGB Mew, PSA 10: $13,850.69, on October 11
- Mew ex SIR #152, BGS Black Label 10: $13,725, in early November
- Red RGB Mew, PSA 10: $13,700, last month
All prices are in US dollars.
Why it matters for collectors
Population counts explain most of these prices. The Lugia sold while it was the only Black Label 10 on record; SI reports the BGS population has since grown to 53. The Charizard Black Label 10 population was four and the Mew ex five. By contrast, the PSA 10 populations for the Blue and Red RGB Mew are 171 and 229.
That pattern is common with new releases. The first copies at the top grade often sell for a premium that shrinks as more copies are graded. Early sale prices are not a reliable guide to where a card will settle.
What Canadian collectors should know
If you are pulling 30th Celebration cards, check the current population report before pricing a high-grade copy, rather than relying on the first record sale. Remember to convert from US dollars and to factor in grading fees and cross-border shipping. Canadian collectors can buy and sell 30th Celebration singles and slabs in CAD on TCE.