FIRST PUBLIC AUCTION OF THE NEW "COLLECTION CARDS" DEPARTMENT

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FIRST PUBLIC AUCTION OF THE NEW "COLLECTION CARDS" DEPARTMENT

After establishing the first department in Europe entirely dedicated to "Collectible Cards," Aguttes held its inaugural public auction of Pokémon, Magic, and other TCG* cards, as well as sports cards, on October 18, 2023, in Neuilly-sur-Seine. This first auction generated sales exceeding €200,000** and witnessed a genuine enthusiasm among bidders, particularly for Pokémon.

"Very pleased with this first auction of an entirely new department, the first of its kind in Europe! A real success, the bids and the overall result have demonstrated that Aguttes meets the expectations of both buyers and sellers, providing a trusted third party like an auction house. Collectors and communities have shown great enthusiasm."

Maximilien Aguttes, Director of Transformation & Development.

"Pokémon collectors had spread the word, and all the Pokémon communities in France had rallied: we sold 65% of the Pokémon, and the top lot, a 1st edition, exceeded market prices. This first event also allowed us to establish contacts with many international collectors. Not surprisingly, I notice that boxes, sealed products, and booster packs are highly appealing and continue to excite buyers."

François Thierry, expert

Top 6
Lot 84 – Pokémon Box scellée Set de base Édition Set de base 1re édition (1999).- 46 789 €
Lot 1 - Pokémon Box scellée Set de base 1re édition Édition Set de base 1re édition (1999). – 41 145 € 
Lot 50 – Pokémon Display scellé Decks Jungle Édition Jungle (2000) – 7 249 €
Lot 86 - YU-GI-OH! Display scellé neuf «La Légende Du Dragon Blanc Aux Yeux Bleus», version française – 6 853 €
Lot 155 - MAGIC THE GATHERING© Mox Pearl Édition Beta (1993) - 5 667 €
Lot 23 – POKÉMON Dracaufeu Set de base 1re édition gradé 9,5 – 5 460 €

Aguttes conquering a new market

"Always where you least expect it, Aguttes."Actu.fr, le 15 octobre 2023Actu.fr, October 15, 2023.

Wishing to contribute to the secondary market of collectible cards by positioning itself as a trusted intermediary, Aguttes decided to leverage its expertise to select exceptional cards, offer them individually, describe them in a catalog, promote them, organize exhibitions and events, allowing collectors and investors to view them before each auction. Established in the spring, the new department was able to assemble a large and high-quality selection of 270 lots in just a few weeks.

With a total amount exceeding 200,000 euros, this first auction demonstrates the pivotal role of a trusted intermediary, like an auction house, in an emerging market in Europe. While it takes time to familiarize the various card collecting communities with using an auction house, half of the lots had already found buyers during this first public auction. Bidders participated in this auction both in person, over the phone, and on online platforms, with around 400 registered participants.

Lot 84 - POKÉMON
Sealed Base Set 1st Edition (1999) sealed box. Condition: Good, sealed, perfectly preserved in a plexiglass box. Language: French.
sold 46 789 €

Among the notable bidding battles, we especially remember Pokémon (lot 84) - Sealed Base Set 1st Edition Box (1999) - sold for €46,789. The Pokémon section, which opened this auction, was a real hit, with 65% of lots sold and some bids exceeding market prices. Europe, particularly France, represents the historical market for this specialty, and European bidders actively participated in this auction. The Pokémon (50) - Sealed Display Decks Jungle Edition Jungle (2000) - drove the bidding up to €7,249, while Pokémon (lot 23) - Charizard Base Set 1st Edition graded 9.5 - reached €5,460.

 
Lot 50 - POKÉMON
Sealed Display Decks Jungle Edition Jungle (2000)
Condition: Sealed deck display.
Language: French. Unavailable in French.
Sold 7 249 €

A Pokémon (lot 61) - Umbreon Card 1st Edition Wizards Neo Discovery (2001). Condition: PCA graded 9 card. Language: French - sparked a fierce bidding war and doubled its estimate. At €4,613, a bidder had the final word.

Lot 61- POKÉMON
Umbreon Card 1st Edition Wizards Neo Discovery (2001).
Condition: PCA graded 9 card.
Language: French.
sold 4 613 €

Among the other Trading Card Games (TCG), YU-GI-OH! (lot 86) - Sealed brand new "The Legend of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon," French version - stood out at €6,853.

On the Magic side, a more international market, also saw great results! Bidders from across the Channel, including many Americans, were present. MAGIC THE GATHERING© (lot 155) - Mox Pearl Beta Edition (1993) - changed hands for €5,667.

Lot 155 - MAGIC THE GATHERING©
Mox Pearl Beta Edition (1993).
Condition: BGS graded 8 card.
Language: English.
Sold 5 667 €

A piece of Magic the Gathering© history (lot 184), a test printing sheet of the complete set of non-common cards from the Unlimited edition with the classic MTG card backs, featuring iconic cards. Most of these sheets were lost, discarded, or cut, and no other known copy of the same sheet is available on the market. This lot exceeded its estimate and reached €5,140.

Lot 184 - MAGIC THE GATHERING©
Unlimited Edition printing sheet Unlimited Edition (1993).
Condition: Perfect preservation condition.
Language: English.
Sold 5 140 €

Other impressive bids rewarded certain cards: €2,210 for MAGIC THE GATHERING© (lot 196) - Black Lotus Collector's Edition (1993). Condition: SGS graded 9 card - and €2,805 for MAGIC THE GATHERING© (lot 231) - 5 sealed Legends Edition Legends (1994) boosters. Condition: sealed and perfectly preserved, from the same Booster Box as lot #230. Language: English.

The auction house allows for confident buying, thanks to the expertise conducted on each piece, which legally commits both the auction house and its expert. In summary, collectible cards at Aguttes benefit from the same guarantees as artworks entrusted to the house in terms of preservation, handling, and transfer of responsibility. As a trusted intermediary, this new department facilitates the resale or purchase between collectors, while ensuring the security of transactions, the preservation, and the transportation of collectible cards. The next auction for the "Collectible Cards" department will take place on February 8, 2024, at Aguttes in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Retrouvez tous les résultats ci-après : Aguttes

Upcoming auction
"Collectible Cards," on February 8, 2024.
Aguttes - 164 bis avenue Charles-de-Gaulle - Neuilly-sur-Seine

COLLECTIBLE CARDS
François Thierry
Consultant
+33 1 84 20 04 14 - thierry.consultant@aguttes.com

*Trading Card Game (TCG)
**Amounts including fees