Where Does the Collectible Card Craze Come From ?

As a result of the sanitary crisis, not only are more and more people getting into board games, but collectible cards, Pokemon, Magic, have become more valuable. Where does this renewed interest come from?

Collectable cards are fancy pieces of cardboard that people love collecting, trading, and sometimes playing games with. They come in all sorts of types, from sports cards to trading card games and everything in between.

Types of Collectible Cards

1. Sports Cards
   • Baseball
   • Basketball
   • Football
   • Soccer
   • Hockey
2. Trading Card Games
   • Pokémon
   • Magic: The Gathering
   • Yu-Gi-Oh!
3. Non-Sports Cards
   • Movie and TV show cards
   • Historical event cards
   • Art cards

The History of Collectible Cards

Believe it or not, collectable cards have been around for over a century. Cigarette companies started including baseball cards in their packs in the late 1800s to stiffen the packaging. Little did they know they were kicking off a hobby that would last well into the 21st century.

These days, the world of collectable cards is bigger than ever. With the internet, buying, selling, and trading cards with people worldwide is easier than ever. There are even online versions of trading card games, bringing the hobby into the digital age.

A Way to Invest Money

Another reason for this trend is the unstable economy, which was in complete freefall at the start of the pandemic and showed signs of a shaky recovery in 2021. With eroded confidence in financial systems, many people are turning to alternative means, such as cryptocurrency or collectables, to invest their savings. A less expensive way to have fun with cards can be to play online scratch cards. The value of these virtual cards does not fluctuate and can even earn you money!

Besides, there is no risk of cornering or damaging them like Pokemon cards! There are between 25 and 30 billion Pokémon cards worldwide, either jealously guarded, lost or for sale. And they are no longer just cards to play and collect; they are now part of a real business and some sports cards.

A new concept has emerged recently called fractional ownership. This is where multiple people buy partial shares in ultra-rare collectables. Apps like Otis and Rally (among many others) have been created, allowing anybody to take part in alternative investments. The collectable card market makes up a large portion of these so-called alternative investments. While alternative investing is new and exciting, one aspect cannot be forgotten—taxes! Collectable or not, if we take part in selling a collectable card and make a profit, we are responsible for paying a Capital Gains tax. Don’t worry, though. If you file your tax return online using a reputable tax program, you can upload any documents or supporting information surrounding any collectable card sale you might have made. 

An Activity That Makes People Feel Good

Many believe that the cause of the resurgence in the popularity of cards is the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept many people isolated at home with plenty of time to indulge in a new hobby. Team Whistle, a sports broadcasting company, conducted a study that found 77% of millennials and Generation Z felt the desire to engage with “a comfortable activity that would offer them a break from the news,” with 73% reporting spending money on a hobby “in the past month.”

“The pandemic has caused many people to reevaluate their interests,” says Justin Goodman, a vintage baseball card enthusiast who hosts the collector-centric podcast The Monster. “Collecting cards has brought happiness and comfort to people in a time characterized by a lot of uncertainty and fear. The Internet gave people a forum to talk when the rest of the world was locked up. It was the way to live vicariously.” In addition, card collections tap into nostalgia because they recall childhood or adolescence, times of joy and lightheartedness.

The Most Valuable Cards

Some cards are worth big bucks. Check out this table of some of the most expensive cards ever sold:

What is the future of collectable cards?

The value of collectable cards will increase over time. Their value depends on factors such as condition, rarity and age. First edition collectable cards are the most sought-after for collectors, although to sell for close to thousands of dollars, they must be officially graded in perfect condition. Collectable cards eventually go out of print, making them harder to obtain commercially. If reprinted, the new set of cards will not be the 1st edition and, therefore, less valuable. Maybe it’s time to look in your drawers to see if you still have any collectable cards from your teenage years!

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