National Trading Card Day: A Day of Passion and Investment

To some, the hobby of collecting pieces of paper might seem strange. But if you haven't experienced the thrill and tension of opening a pack and discovering a rare gem, you probably won't understand. It's a passion bordering on gambling. For some, it's also an interesting investment opportunity. I've fallen for it several times myself, and while I generally try to avoid them, it's a losing battle. On the occasion of National Trading Card Day, celebrated on February 24th, especially in the USA, let's take a look at the history and present of this phenomenon.

The exact history of this date isn't entirely clear, as there is no official “International Trading Card Day” declared by any global institution. Enthusiasts and the collecting community use this day as an opportunity to highlight the long tradition, unique atmosphere, and investment potential of collectible series. It's a day when fans inspire each other, share experiences, hold trade meets, and celebrate the rarest or most beloved pieces in their collections. Moreover, the annual recurrence of the same date helps connect collectors internationally, so the community chose February 24th as a symbolic day to highlight the magic of cards and their place in pop culture and personal nostalgia.

The History of Trading Cards

The history of trading cards dates back to the 19th century, when tobacco companies began inserting cards featuring baseball stars into cigarette packs. These small “inserts” were originally intended as advertising, but they quickly became sought-after collectibles for fans. Alongside sports motifs, cards featuring animals, movie characters, or natural scenery gradually spread. Rare cards began to be valued more than common ones, which kicked off the first auctions and trades involving significant money.

Sports Cards as a Synonym for Collecting

When you mention “trading cards” to a sci-fi and fantasy fan, they immediately think of Magic: The Gathering or Pokémon, but the true synonym is sports cards. You might shake your head at the astronomical price of an iconic Black Lotus in Magic, but those are just peanuts compared to some sports cards.

According to some sources, the so-called Peck & Snyder baseball cards from 1868 were among the first sports cards. The era of tobacco companies followed, issuing packs with baseball photos in the early 20th century, including the legendary T206. The “golden age” arrived in the 1950s to 1970s thanks to the Topps company, which began issuing massive collectible series of sports stars. However, the market became oversaturated in the 1980s, leading to a speculative bubble and a price drop. Nevertheless, sports cards maintained their fan community, and in the modern era, with the development of digital auctions and professional grading, they are experiencing another wave of popularity from an investment perspective.

According to data from the auction house Sotheby's, some of the most expensive sports cards in the world include the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, which sold for $12.6 million in 2022. The equally legendary T206 Honus Wagner reached $7.25 million. A more modern 2009 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Mike Trout fetched $3.93 million at auction, and a 2003-04 Exquisite Collection LeBron James soared to $5.2 million.

Technological progress in printing brought sophisticated security features and condition certifications. Thanks to this, particularly well-preserved specimens gain great investment value. Professional grading and scaling systems emerged, guaranteeing authenticity and preserving collections in special protective cases. (In layman's terms – you send the card to a company that provides these services, they grade it and seal it in a special case with a seal.)

Magic: The Gathering

From sports, we finally get to the trading card games as we know them. Magic: The Gathering enters the world. The game was created by American mathematician Richard Garfield, who was looking for a way to create a strategy game with an infinite number of combinations in the early 90s. He approached Wizards of the Coast with his idea, and in 1993, the first trading card game ever appeared. Thanks to its innovative mana color system, diverse decks, and constantly growing expansions, the game quickly gained popularity among players who appreciate its strategic depth and ever-evolving lore. Over the years, Magic: The Gathering has experienced many versions, tournaments, and professional competitions, making it a cult title and one of the most essential names in the world of card games.

Magic can also be an interesting investment opportunity. Among the most expensive Magic: The Gathering cards is the legendary Black Lotus from the Alpha edition, which sells for over $500,000 in perfect condition. In 2024, a record was even broken when a Black Lotus sold at auction for $3 million. The only existing copy of The One Ring from the LOTR edition sold for $2.2 million. The so-called “Power Nine” include Mox Sapphire and Time Walk, whose prices in top condition range in the tens of thousands of dollars. You can easily pay $30,000 for a Mox Sapphire, while Time Walk climbs toward $15,000. Rare pieces also include The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale or Library of Alexandria – in good condition, they sell for thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. It is precisely the preservation and verified authenticity that make these historical cards exceptional investment trophies.

Pokémon TCG

Three years later, Magic's first major competitor was born. The Pokémon Trading Card Game originated in Japan in 1996, published by Media Factory, and quickly gained popularity among players and collectors. It reached the USA in 1999 thanks to Wizards of the Coast, who prepared the first editions like Base Set, Jungle, or Fossil. In 2003, The Pokémon Company took over distribution, and they continue to release regular expansion sets full of new Pokémon, game mechanics, and special cards.

Interestingly, the very first Japanese edition contained 102 cards, and one of the rarest promo cards ever is the Pikachu Illustrator, which sold at auction for an incredible $5.275 million. The 1st Edition Holographic Charizard in perfect condition (PSA 10) also holds high value, potentially reaching over $400,000. Among the legendary rarities is also the “Prerelease Raichu,” which supposedly exists in only a few copies. Pokémon TCG has become a global sensation over the years: over 30 billion cards have been sold, and the game is available in many languages. Thanks to its strategic gameplay, colorful graphics, and expanding universe, Pokémon TCG maintains its reputation as one of the most successful card games in the world.

Other Trading Card Games

Magic and Pokémon TCG are definitely not the only trading card games. Hundreds of competing games have been created, but practically none have achieved such success. Most games quickly fell into oblivion. Nevertheless, there are a few titles that are still worth paying attention to.

Flesh and Blood

From Legend Story Studios, it brings action-packed hero duels and an original resource management system (pitch). Timing your attacks and defenses and building a “combat chain” is key. The game has gained a large fan base and offers tournaments with attractive prizes. Flesh and Blood has a truly unique system that allows for a huge number of combinations and playstyles. The game is still alive and played regularly.

Final Fantasy TCG

It utilizes the world and characters of the cult video game series. “Mana” sources are so-called backups, which you then use to play heroes, monsters, or summons. Each deck combines elements (fire, ice, wind, etc.) to create unique strategies. Frequent expansions bring new characters and game elements.

KeyForge

Designed by Richard Garfield. You don't choose cards individually here; instead, you buy ready-made “Archon decks” (each deck is unique). The goal is to forge three keys before your opponent, with each deck combining three different “houses” with their own abilities and playstyles. However, KeyForge's glory days are behind it. A technical issue with deck generation halted KeyForge development for several years. Today, the authors (without Garfield) are trying to revive the game, but the competition has moved on. I have a lot of personal experience with KeyForge. There was a time when we played it a lot, and I'm honestly sorry about how it turned out.

Altered TCG

A newer title with more cheerful fantasy and sci-fi elements. The authors emphasize detailed illustrations and are rapidly developing the tournament scene. The player community appreciates that the publisher responds flexibly to feedback and tunes the rules to be accessible to both new and experienced players. The first major expansion of the game has just been released. We play Altered at imago. 🙂 If the game caught your interest, read our first impressions of the game.

Star Wars Unlimited

Star Wars Unlimited is a trading card game that lets you bring all the iconic characters and vehicles from the entire saga into action – from Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader to minor side characters and interesting factions. Its uniqueness lies in a fast-paced yet strategically rich system that offers different playstyles for individual factions and heroes. Elaborate illustrations capture iconic movie moments and enhance the Star Wars atmosphere. The publisher, Fantasy Flight Games, plans frequent deck expansions, so you can look forward to further waves of innovation and new cards. The combination of clear rules, a wide range of characters, and intergalactic battles makes Star Wars Unlimited a highly attractive title that quickly gained a devoted community. A new expansion, Jump to Lightspeed, which focuses on space battles, is currently being released.

Disney Lorcana TCG

One of the biggest novelties of 2023 from Disney and Ravensburger. Here, you become an “Illumineer” who summons Disney characters (Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Elsa, and others) and leads them on adventures. The game aims for accessible yet strategic rules that combine the magic of the Disney world with trading card gameplay. Lorcana is quickly gaining fans for its visuals, wide range of characters, and regularly expanded story.

Dragon Ball Super TCG

It focuses on battles between famous fighters (Goku, Vegeta, etc.). You choose a “Leader” card that determines your playstyle and combine attacks to deplete your opponent's life. Each set follows popular passages from the series and manga and offers new cards with unique abilities.

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Created based on the Japanese manga and anime of the same name. You build a deck of monsters, spells, and traps to handle fast duels with intense combo moves. The Summoning system and Chain Links allow for tactical battles. Over the years, many expansions and special editions have been released, bringing constant dynamics to the game.

Trading cards have proven over the years to be an admirable phenomenon that knows no borders and connects different worlds. Some see nostalgia and the joy of discovery in them, while others see an investment opportunity. Whether you are drawn to sports gems, fantastic adventures, or favorite pop culture characters, one thing is certain – every card carries its own story and magic that can draw you into an unrepeatable world of collecting.

author Karel Krajča