I found my WoTC era cards in dustproof protection from storage after all these years, and came across a card, to which I cannot understate the extent to which it’s affected me.
-Kadabra (Base 1)
-Triple Ink Hickey (2 Small, 1 Large)
-Heterochromatic Ink Hickeys (2 Red/Yellow, 1 Blue Cyan)
-Registration Error of 30/70 front ~50/50 back
I took the photos to my LCS, to which the assistant was initially curious at the triple hickeys, then his jaw dropped at the Registration Error on the same card and booked a specialist for the weekend to look at it (along with some spitball offers if signed off as genuine).
I’m still at a loss for what to do. I’m thinking uncleaned and WalkThrough with CGC solely for the authentic and forensic report over an actual grade. I made an account to get the views of the Elite Four(um).
It’s a neat error card with the combined hickeys and miscut. I’m not an error expert or collector, but I would think it would fetch a premium over a normal Kadabra. But I wouldn’t expect that premium to be some over-the-top amount.
I think errors like this are just better sold as raw rather than graded, as the grading doesn’t really add any premium. It’s also probably not that difficult to verify that it’s an authentic card (looks real to me)—no need to pay CGC to do that.
It’s cool but I wouldn’t suggest the errors increase its value tremendously (centreing isn’t off massively and the printer hickeys are small). Unfortunately condition is rough as well.
I would only get it graded if you’re doing so for personal collection. Majority of the money spent grading this card will not be able to be recouped!
The LCS assistant stated that the errors individually wouldn’t be worth much, a little bit of premium for the registration maybe, but that specific combination of errors on the same card was something he hadn’t seen before.
I looked at the mass-produced error card catalogue and couldn’t find it in there before heading down, and the assistant said they’d do a bit of research themselves before the meeting.
The store has a Beckett sponsor, but conceded taking it to CGC solely for getting the errors listed over the actual supplementary grade. IF CGC listed all the errors on the one plaque, as well as depending on the specialist’s views of the card, they’d probably put it up at around AU$2,000 absolute max.
Also, not mold, just dirt and gunk on the back of the card
Agreed. It’s pretty clear that the card is real, so sending it to grade for Auth only is redundant. Anyone worth their salt should be able to determine this is Auth, but as it’s only an unlmtd card (Still a very cool card!) grading might not add much value, if any.
Welcome to e4! Thanks for sharing your cool error card.
I collect errors and see things like this from time to time. This card is worth between $30-$50 to the right person, either an error collector or a Kadabra collector. That’s a 30x-50x premium on a card that is typically worth ~$1 or less given the condition!
I know that this might not be the type of feedback that you were looking for, as finding treasure is the most exciting part about looking through old collections. But I thought it might be helpful to have a realistic view of what’s going on; if this was a $2,000 card, I would be the first to tell you.
Sorry for the bad news, but it’s still a cool card that you can keep in your collection.
Hey Elitefourum. I have status updates on the card.
The specialist was very interested in the card, placing it anywhere between $1,000 and $100,000 with a recommended insurance of $15,000, offering to buy it for $500 ungraded, uncleaned. This lead to some adventures to get a wide range of appraisal opinions, going to 4 local dealers that focused on error cards.
2 had placed it at “Unable to be priced” for the combination on errors. 1 had actually man-handled, flicked around, shook it, overall dismissive stance focusing on the actual uncommon rarity of the card print itself then the combination of errors, then threw it on the glass table when informed CGC considered it “unique” in 2 emails.
This lead to comms with CGC and PSA’s research team, that fast-tracked it to Research Leadership and confirmed it was likely a “once-time error”.
CGC has agreed to honor the insurance for $15,000 as I am able to provide transcripts of the discussion with the specialist.
I am no expert, but that was about the sum I was thinking of, as I first saw the card. If it was Starmie I would pay around 50 to 100 €. But with the condition being as bad as it is, I would likely just skip the card, because it’s no fun to look at.
In my ~15 plus years in the hobby I’ve met many specialists who deal with very specific product. In my experience, not one of them would ever give a 1-100k window on the price of a card, at least nobody who is good in this field. It’s even more bazar they would give you a 100k window and then tell you to insure for 15k. Based off of what? If you were my client I would tell you to do the full 100k value since… that’s where I priced it.
I would be curious to know who this specialist is, and what their background is. Please feel free to drop a name/contact information. I would be curious to know what the rest of us don’t.
“2 had placed it at “Unable to be priced” for the combination on errors.”
This is very telling, typically unable to price means it’s not worth much
“1 had actually man-handled, flicked around, shook it, overall dismissive stance focusing on the actual uncommon rarity of the card print itself then the combination of errors, then threw it on the glass table when informed CGC considered it “unique” in 2 emails.”
I hope your aware there is no possible way this person is specialized in the hobby.
The fact that PSA won’t issue it a special label is very telling that the card is in fact, not that special. I know there are lots of “one-off” errors on the market and they very seldom move for price points you mention.
The most interesting part of your post here is in fact not the card, but in fact the 100K specialist. I’ve got some really strange stuff I would love to sell him.
I look at errors much differently, I put them into two categories. Preproduction errors and production/ post production errors.
I like the preproduction errors from Base Set such as Evo Box Wartortle, D.efending Beedrill, No Damage Ninetales, Rotated Energy Diglett.
When it comes to errors such as ink hickies, crimps, miss cuts, grey stamps, etc… For myself… I look at them simply as damage received in the factory and poor quality control.
I personally add no additional value to those types of errors. I think it actually makes the card worth less, for me its no different then poor centering, whitening, poor corners, production surface wear or dings.
However, there are many who collect errors and put a higher then normal value on them.
You need to take the $500 offer. That is so far beyond the value of this card that it is almost unbelievable someone is so foolish to offer you that much.
I say this respectfully - everyone that you spoke to about the appraisal for this card is obviously not in the Pokemon market. You have what I like to call “diamond eyes,” where your desire for owning a valuable card is making you blind to the very real and accurate sage advice that seasoned collectors are providing to you.
