Die-hard Pokémon fans are grappling to bid thousands of pounds to land the world's most expensive card, dubbed 'the holy grail'.
Seller Scott Pratte is demanding a staggering $100,000 (£64,000) for the Pikachu Illustrator Card - one of just
six in circulation.
As of today, 2200 buyers are 'watching' the bid, which ends on 18 September.
The savvy owner from Edwardsville, Illinois, is also accepting bids of more than $50,000 - and has rejected all 427 offers so far.
According to eBay statistics, the item is viewed at a rate of 230 people per hour.
The international Pokémon phenomenon is one of the most lucrative animation franchises in history.
Despite diminishing in popularity, the franchise is still
running and releasing products, such as the 3D video game, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, to be released in October this year.
Despite diminishing in popularity, the franchise is still
running and releasing products, such as the 3D video game, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, to be released in October this year.
Schools worldwide were forced to bring in strict gambling rules in the late 1990s as children incessantly fought
over the collectible trading cards sold in shops, magazines, and fast food meals.
The series, part of the cartoon genre 'animé', launched in Japan in 1995.
It follows Ash and his friends Misty and Brock as they fight evil with monsters, 'Pokémons', they can store in a
small ball.
Each Pokémon has its own special powers and different strengths.
In the show, owners pit their pocket monsters against each other - the winner keeps both.
As the slogan 'Gotta catch em all' suggests, the aim is to collect all 649 existing pocket monsters - a battle
schoolchildren worldwide simulated using the collectible playing cards.
Among the mass-produced cards, the
most expensive, the Charizard, is £100 - although first-edition holographic versions can fetch up to £3,000.
Even Team GB's judo star Ashley McKenzie admitted he took up the sport after a fight over his prized Charizard
card.
He said: 'This Charizard was the best card. It was my life back then.
'I've gone to grab his shirt and next thing I knew I was over his shoulder.'
After researching judo moves on the internet, McKenzie returned to reclaim his pricey commodity.
He added: 'We spoke, we're friends, I started judo. Obviously I got my Pokemon card back.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Seller Scott Pratte is demanding a staggering $100,000 (£64,000) for the Pikachu Illustrator Card - one of just
six in circulation.
As of today, 2200 buyers are 'watching' the bid, which ends on 18 September.
The savvy owner from Edwardsville, Illinois, is also accepting bids of more than $50,000 - and has rejected all 427 offers so far.
According to eBay statistics, the item is viewed at a rate of 230 people per hour.
The international Pokémon phenomenon is one of the most lucrative animation franchises in history.
Despite diminishing in popularity, the franchise is still
running and releasing products, such as the 3D video game, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, to be released in October this year.
Despite diminishing in popularity, the franchise is still
running and releasing products, such as the 3D video game, Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, to be released in October this year.
Schools worldwide were forced to bring in strict gambling rules in the late 1990s as children incessantly fought
over the collectible trading cards sold in shops, magazines, and fast food meals.
The series, part of the cartoon genre 'animé', launched in Japan in 1995.
It follows Ash and his friends Misty and Brock as they fight evil with monsters, 'Pokémons', they can store in a
small ball.
Each Pokémon has its own special powers and different strengths.
In the show, owners pit their pocket monsters against each other - the winner keeps both.
As the slogan 'Gotta catch em all' suggests, the aim is to collect all 649 existing pocket monsters - a battle
schoolchildren worldwide simulated using the collectible playing cards.
Among the mass-produced cards, the
most expensive, the Charizard, is £100 - although first-edition holographic versions can fetch up to £3,000.
Even Team GB's judo star Ashley McKenzie admitted he took up the sport after a fight over his prized Charizard
card.
He said: 'This Charizard was the best card. It was my life back then.
'I've gone to grab his shirt and next thing I knew I was over his shoulder.'
After researching judo moves on the internet, McKenzie returned to reclaim his pricey commodity.
He added: 'We spoke, we're friends, I started judo. Obviously I got my Pokemon card back.'
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk