Brief
Ewbank's auctions to sell attic‑found Pokémon collection for up to £270,000
Ewbank's estimates the newly discovered collection could reach a quarter‑million pounds at auction.
By Felo News Desk · Published
A retired decorator from Woking discovered 42 mint‑condition Pokémon trading‑card sets stored in his attic and has taken them to Ewbank's Auctions in Surrey for sale. The auction house estimates the collection could fetch more than £250,000, with a potential hammer price of around £270,000 on Oct 21.
What happened
The man, who asked to remain unnamed, learned of a single card selling for £6,000 and submitted a sample of his cards to Ewbank's. The auction house’s head of trading cards, James Spooner, described the find as "all in mint condition" and said the sheer volume – 42 complete sets – was unprecedented for the firm.
What the reports add
According to Daily Mail, the collection is titled "Pokémon: A Decade of Masters (1999‑2009)" and will be auctioned live on Oct 21. Spooner estimated individual sets could range from £20,000 to £40,000, with the overall collection potentially reaching £270,000. The article also notes Ewbank's five‑year history of dedicated trading‑card auctions, which have generated over £1.1 million in sales.
What was said
James Spooner told Daily Mail, "When we saw what he had – all in mint condition – we couldn't believe it… our jaws hit the floor." The collector added, "I had no idea what they were worth until the team at Ewbank's explained it to me." Andrew Ewbank, head of Ewbank's Auctions, was pictured with Spooner but was not quoted.
How it came about
The cards were stored in a bespoke binder after the owner’s son lost interest in Pokémon. The collector recalled buying a few sets on eBay in the late 1990s after a Malaysian seller offered complete master sets. Earlier this year, Ewbank's handled another attic find – a 20‑year‑old collection from teacher Andrew Braund – which sold three rare cards for £32,800 on Apr 16.
Key facts
- 42 mint‑condition Pokémon card sets were found in an attic in Woking. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Ewbank's estimates the collection could sell for up to £270,000. (dailymail.co.uk)
- The auction is scheduled for 21 October 2026. (dailymail.co.uk)
- James Spooner, head of trading cards at Ewbank's, gave the valuation. (dailymail.co.uk)
- Ewbank's has generated more than £1.1 million from trading‑card auctions over five years. (dailymail.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] dailymail.co.uk — originally reported as “Pokémon cards found in an attic could sell for sky-high £270,000”
