A TEACHER is hoping to pay for his wedding with rare Pokémon cards -valued at £25,000 – that he found in an attic after 20 years.
Andrew Braund, 37, came across three Pokémon cards whilst clearing out his childhood home in Wimborne, .
A near-complete 1st Edition Fossil Set £800 – £1,600Credit: SWNS
Andrew Braund with fiancée, Rachel MoseleyCredit: SWNS
The 37-year-old brought his recovered collection to a friend’s trading card store, hoping all his cards combined might be worth a few hundred pounds.
But he was left “light-headed” when his friend singled out three Charizard cards not in his organised binders – telling him they’re worth tens of thousands.
Stumbling upon the rare cards couldn’t have come at a better time for Mr Braund, who is due to marry his fiancée, Rachel Moseley, in August, after they got engaged at last year’s Chalke Valley Festival.
He now hopes the cards, which are being sold by Ewbank’s , could earn enough to pay for his wedding.
Mr Braund’s mint condition Skyridge Charizard Holo Pokémon card is tipped to sell for between £8,000 and £12,000, whilst another near-mint copy of the same card could go for up to £10,000.
A third, Reverse-Holo of the same card is estimated to sell for between £1,600 and £2,200.
He said: “When my friend told me how much the Charizard cards might be worth, I got quite lightheaded,”
“I was very big into Pokémon cards as a child… I remember them being banned at boarding school.
“When they were unbanned, everyone just pulled them out of their pockets.
“Ironically, the three Charizard cards must have been from one of the last packs I ever bought.
“They have the highest monetary value, but the lowest sentimental value. The ones I loved as a kid look worn from being in my pockets all the time.”
Mr Braund explained that his parents had asked him to clear out some of his things from the loft of his childhood home in Wimborne when he discovered his old collection.
“I didn’t think they would be worth anything,” he admitted.
“I was helping out at a friend’s trading card shop a few days later and took my collection down.
“I was expecting the entire collection to be worth £500 or so.
“My friend told me how much these Charizards were worth and I almost had a panic attack, quite frankly.
“Those three weren’t even in the binder – they were in a separate tin.
“I wasn’t expecting them to be worth anything like that.
“I’m hoping the sale of these cards might contribute towards the cost of my wedding.”
Ewbank’s sale takes place later this month, on April 16.
A mint condition Skyridge Charizard Holo, estimated at £8,000 – £12,000Credit: SWNS
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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