In 1996, Pokémon cards debuted in Japan as collectibles sold through vending machines. When they reached the United States, their popularity exploded, creating a new market for “scalpers” who bought up cards and resold them at inflated prices. First-edition Pokémon cards had smaller print runs, and most kids played with their cards rather than preserving them, making truly mint-condition copies incredibly valuable today. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pokémon card market had risen roughly 3,821% since 2004, compared with about 483% for the S&P 500. As of 2026, more than 85 billion Pokémon cards have been produced, while the record sale is a 1998 Japanese Pikachu Illustrator card that sold for $16.49 million.(Historic Vids)