I started this Pokemon card collection journey just 6 months ago in August, 2024. Ever since, I’ve been hooked getting back into this franchise I once loved as a kid. It started with late nights researching what cards existed, then being completely overwhelmed with the catalogue of modern, mid-era, and vintage cards on the market, and finally flabbergasted at the prices of these little cardboard squares could amount to.
As the sticker shock subsided and my love for Pokemon reignited, there was one card that stuck out amongst all else - the Rayquaza Gold Star PSA 10 autographed by Jaison Page. At the time, rumors had it the card was worth between $150,000 - $200,000. An unimaginable number that prices out the majority of all people on this planet, including myself. But at least the beauty of this hobby is it can appeal to everyone no matter your income level. From $1 binders, $7 packs, all the way up to the grails of the high end market like $1M cards, there’s something for everyone who enjoys the hobby and it embraces you with open arms. So I started slowly, buying $25-100 slabs of some real cute pokemon (Azumarill) and learning more and more about this hobby that I’ve lost my relationship with for the better part of 20 years.
From all the card shows I attended, the countless hours scrolling eBay or Facebook marketplace, or even the most random places I’ve driven to just to catch a raid on pokemon go.. any reasonable person would think I’m insane. But for the last 20~ years, I’ve lost sight of something that pokemon has been able to bring back to me, my inner child. From the ages of 7-9, loading up Emerald on my gameboy advance SP, trading/battling pokemon with friends, and camping out in a local mall for a special Celebi DLC were some of my fondest memories I carry with me in my childhood. There aren’t words to describe the feeling my 9 year old self felt when I finally got my first level 100 pokemon (Azumarill and Ray) - the countless hours grinding the Elite 4 and feeling of mastery can’t be replicated.
Sitting in the crossroads between professional pursuit and nostalgia is THIS very card for me. The gold star Rayquaza represents more than just a pokemon or even my love of the hobby/collectibles. To me, it’s the perfect all encompassing depiction of my journey of personal growth and rediscovery of my inner child; simultaneously climbing a new mountaintop in professional achievement to be financially able to splurge $340,000 on this card. Every time I look at this card, it triggers the same feeling as inserting that light green Emerald insert booting up my Game Boy.
There is only 1 copy of this card in the world and the demand seems higher than ever for high end collectibles. Sadly this one is now off the market, whether price goes up or down doesn’t matter to me. This one will be safe in my PC 
PS. May we all discover our inner child, pursue it endlessly, and express ourselves freely. I believe our inner child is our path to happiness - I lost sight of mine for a long while and couldn’t be happier to have a relationship with him again
