Pokémon folder & cards sell for £1,000 at Staffordshire auction

However, at Staffordshire auction house Cuttlestones’ recent Spring Antiques Sale it was an original Pokémon hardback folder containing approx. 150 Pokémon cards, including a complete base set, that got nostalgic bidders hot under the collar, with the hammer falling at an impressive £1,000 against an estimate of £50-100.

This was just one lot in a strong toy section, which also saw rather more ‘traditional’ collectable toys sell particularly well. Model gauge railway items proved as popular as ever, with highlights including a 0 gauge NER steam locomotive and piece of rolling stock mounted on a track in a display case fetching £290 and a number of 0 gauge carriages achieving £210

The transport theme continued with a tray of mixed boxed Dinky & Corgi vehicles – including Dinky Missile servicing platform vehicle 667 and a Dinky VE KDF 617 among others, selling for £600.

Other traditional toys that performed well were figures – a box of mainly Britains and Timpo figures including American Civil Wa5, Cowboys & Indians sold for £190 while a tray of similar figures including horses went for £210. A similar collection featuring Second World War, Knights, horses & more sold for £280.

Head Auctioneer, Ben Gamble, says: “Toys have enduring appeal among collectors, and traditional items like gauge model railways, Dinky and Corgi vehicles and ‘tin’ soldier figures have always had a strong collecting community. 

"However, things are continually evolving and we are now seeing toys from the 70s, 80, 90s and 00s becoming collectable in their own right, with the Pokémon folder and cards being a classic example. We anticipated it would generate interest and sell well but the £1,000 hammer price was a real surprise.”