How to value Pokémon cards in the UK
A five-step process to price any Pokémon card — the same one the Spartan Cards team uses when quoting buys and stocking the shop.
1. Identify the set
The set symbol sits next to the HP or in the bottom-right corner. Base Set has no symbol at all — that's the giveaway for the most valuable era. Modern sets print the set code (e.g. SV3, MEW) alongside the card number.
2. Check rarity and variant
Circle = common, diamond = uncommon, star = rare, star H = holo rare. Modern chase variants (Special Illustration Rare, Hyper Rare, Alt Art) carry the real premium. A reverse holo can be 3–10× the base card.
3. Edition and print marks
1st Edition stamp on the left of the artwork, or Shadowless (no shadow behind the illustration frame) can multiply value 5–20× on vintage. English print typically outvalues Japanese for the same card on the UK market — with exceptions like Japanese Promos and Trainer boxes.
4. Grade the condition honestly
Near Mint, Lightly Played, Moderately Played, Heavily Played. A Charizard in NM can be 4× the value of the same card in MP. Check corners, edges, surface holo and centering. Our condition guide walks through each tier.
5. Use the right price sources
- · Cardmarket — the European baseline. Sort by "Available Items" and look at the 30-day trend, not the low price.
- · TCGPlayer — US market. Convert with a 15–20% UK adjustment on modern sealed.
- · eBay UK sold listings — the truest UK price. Filter by "Sold Items" and last 90 days, then median the top 10.
- · PSA Auction Prices Realised — the only reliable source for graded slab values.
A shortcut
Send us photos through our sell-to-us form and we'll return a valuation within 24 hours — free, no obligation, based on live UK sold comps.