An anonymous retired painter and decorator from Woking, UK, sent a collection of Pokémon cards stored in his attic for about 15 years to Ewbank's auction house. The entire collection fetched a total of £1.56 million (approximately $2.09 million), setting a new record in the auction house's 30-year history.
The collector first got into the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the late 1990s when his son started swapping cards with classmates. He later viewed the cards as a potential investment and bought complete sets via eBay. Even after his son lost interest, he continued collecting until he stored the binders in his attic about 15 years ago. It was only after seeing news of a single card selling for £6,000 that he decided to re-examine his own collection.
Among the lots, a near-mint 2002 Legendary Collection Master Set, originally estimated at £15,000–£20,000, sold for £130,000. A complete Skyridge set, purchased by the original owner for £300 and expected to fetch no more than £40,000, ultimately sold for £97,500.
Some Aquapolis Master Set cards in less-than-pristine condition still sold for £49,500. The collection also included complete sets of EX Team Rocket Returns, EX Delta Species, and EX Deoxys, as well as an entire binder of POP Series cards. The auction highlighted how completeness, rarity, and condition significantly impact the final sale prices of older cards.