If there’s anything you want to keep in pristine condition, it’s trading cards, especially those ofPokémon TCG. Small markings can bring a several-thousand-dollar card down to mere cents if you’re not careful. However, if you’re really lucky, sometimes a unique accident can actually raise the value of a card for certain collectors, especially if it’s a rare occurrence.
Some of those rare circumstances are something like whatPokevolvshortsrecently shared through YouTube shorts, where they stumbled upona slabbed PSA graded 10 Vaporeon ex card fromSV: Prismatic Evolutionsthat had an unfortunate accident. After finding itself lying on a heater, the slab melted around the card, encapsulating it in what Pokevolvshorts dubbed “the craziest slab I have ever seen,” with the card now folded and trapped inside its contorted case.
Melted Slabs Probably Aren’t Worth A Lot, But It’s Cool
Not Every Rare Incident Increases Value Universally, But It Still Could For The Right Buyer
Technically speaking, a melted slab is unfortunately not something likely to raise the price for a lot of buyers, and the original poster of the incident seems to confirm this.Patripzpacks, the owner of the melted slab, shared via TikTok thatwhile the unique card was originally put up for sale, it was unable to find the right buyerand thus now sits in the shop for otherPokémon TCGfans to come and have a look at.
Unfortunately, thisPSA graded 10 cardprobably held more potential sales value before it was melted down, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t still fetch a nice price from the right buyer.There may be 100s of any given card on the market at all times, but there’s nothing else that’s ever going to look exactly like this. It’s a one-time occurrence that can’t be perfectly replicated, and that alone gives it value. To the right buyer, this is still a legendary find.
Some Damaged Cards Can Be Sought-After
Accidents Can Increase Value, But It’s Usually Mistakes Made By The Pokémon Company That Matter
Personally, I lovePokémoncards and collect them myself, but my collection is less about having themost expensivePokémoncardsand more about just obtaining unique cards that I enjoy. So, for someone like me, thisPokémon TCGsculpture is actually more interesting to me now than it would’ve been as just a pristine card.It may not be a good trading card anymore, but it is certainly an interesting piece of art.
However,where the real money lies in card accidents is in design mistakes, manufacturing errors, or misprints. Throughout the years, players have uncovered everything from completely blank cards to misspelled cards, and each one only becomes more valuable because of the more official and rarer incident by Pokémon, or Wizards of the Coast, depending on the time, that caused the issue.
One of the most notable examples is the red vs. yellow-cheeked Pikachu. While thisrare PikachuPokémon TCGcarddesign was officially changed from red to yellow and deemed a design mistake, red variations are still floating around out there that many collectors, myself included, have made it a point to find and collect. In honor of this change, the card was even reprinted in a later set as a full art version with the original red cheeks.
Unfortunately, pulling a misprinted or officially damaged card of value is just as unlikely as pulling high-dollar cards themselves, but that’s not to say your ownPokémon TCGaccidents couldn’t result in some unique and valuable results as well, for the right person.
Sources:Pokevolvshorts/YouTube,Patripzpacks/TikTok
Pokemon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a strategic card game where players build decks of Pokémon, Trainer, and Energy cards. Players take turns using attacks, abilities, and strategies to knock out their opponent’s Pokémon, aiming to collect Prize cards. The first to collect all their Prize cards wins.
