A Texas collector won this sealed 1999 Wizards of the Coast Pokemon Base Unlimited booster box, paying $16,875 for the fresh-to-the-market Pokemon booster box from the original purchaser.
Review by W.A. Demers; Photos Courtesy Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
CRANSTON, R.I. — “To break the box or not?!? That’s for the lucky bidder to decide,” mused Bruneau & Company Auctioneers operations manager Ashle Landry. She was referring to the Texas collector who won a sealed 1999 Wizards of the Coast Pokemon Base Unlimited booster box. It received the winning bid of $16,875 at the firm’s comic, sports, TCG and toy auction on August 8, which hosted 2,000 registered bidders. With green-wing Charizard box art and single country code on bottom, the box was factory sealed with tight and intact cellophane wrap. A great fresh-to-the-market Pokemon booster box from the original purchaser, it was the top lot in the 478-lot sale that offered a mix of comics, sports, toys and associated collectibles from collections across New England.
The same break-the-box quandary faced the winner of a 1999 Pokemon Fossil first edition booster box, which was also factory-sealed with tight and intact WOTC branded cellophane wrap. A fresh-to-the–market Pokemon booster box from the original purchaser, it was bid to $12,188 by the same Texas collector.
From the same year, a 1999 Pokemon base unlimited Charizard holographic trading card blew past its $300/500 estimate to sell for $5,000.
Estimated just $300/500, this 1999 Pokemon Base Unlimited Charizard holographic trading card went out at $5,000.
When it came time for Golden and Silver Age comics to cross the block, a Marvel Comics X-Men #1 from September 1963 led the charge, going out at $11,875. Graded CGC 3.5, the book featured the origin and first appearance of the X-Men and Magneto.
In March 1966 Marvel Comics issued Fantastic Four #48, which featured the first appearance of Silver Surfer and Galactus in cameo on the last page. Graded CGC 7.5, it also handily surpassed its estimate of $600/900 to realize $3,720.
Sports cards continue to pull their weight at auction. Estimated $800-$1,200, a 2000 SP Authentic #118 Tom Brady rookie card, no. 331 of 1,250, RC SGC 8.5 NM/MT+ (92) brought $7,813.
The highest selling sports card was a 2000 SP Authentic #118 Tom Brady RC SGC 8.5, which sold for $7,813, beating its $800-$1,200 estimate.
In baseball, a 1933 Goudey Baseball #133 Babe Ruth batting image trading card sold for $5,280, while the hockey great Bobby Orr skated to $4,080 in the guise of a 1966-67 Topps Hockey #35 rookie trading card.
Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house. The next online auction, featuring a single-owner comics collection, is set for September 16. For information, www.bruneauandco.com or 401-533-9980.
