eBay is marking three decades of Pokémon collecting with “The 30/30 Collection,” a curated auction of iconic Pokémon trading cards and memorabilia launching February 27th. The event, coinciding with Pokémon Day, will feature 30 sought-after items, each starting at its original retail price, offering collectors a unique opportunity to acquire rare pieces of Pokémon history. With Pokémon searches occurring over 360 times per minute on eBay in 2025, the marketplace remains a central hub for the thriving Pokémon collecting community.
The auction will be hosted on eBay Live, beginning at 3:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. ET, and will be the centerpiece of a weekend-long celebration of the franchise. EBay’s livestream shopping experience aims to connect collectors directly with sellers in real-time, fostering a sense of community around this enduring hobby. The event underscores the sustained popularity of Pokémon, fueled by both nostalgia and continued innovation within the franchise.
Rare Collectibles Up for Auction
Highlights of “The 30/30 Collection” include a 1996 Pokémon Base Set Japanese #6 Charizard Holo PSA 10, a card that continues to dominate the collectible card market, representing five of the top 10 highest-value trading card singles sold on eBay in 2025. Also featured is a 1998 Pokémon Red and Blue Versions Game Boy, sealed and graded PSA 9.2, reflecting a 130% increase in searches for the game on eBay compared to the previous year. A 2003 Pokémon Dragon #97 Rayquaza EX Holo PSA 10, the first English appearance of Rayquaza, and a 2021 Seiko SBPY162 Pokémon Special Model Blastoise, limited to 700 pieces, will also be available. Rounding out the featured items is a 2023 Pokémon x Van Gogh SVP Black Star Promo #085 Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat PSA 10, a highly sought-after collaboration that sees approximately 70 searches per hour on eBay.
Pokémon Day Festivities in New York City
Fans can celebrate Pokémon Day in person at an eBay Live on Tour event in New York City on February 27th. Located at The Standard Biergarten (848 Washington St, New York, NY) from 11:00 a.m. To 8:00 p.m. ET, the event will offer trading tables, professional PSA grading services, interactive experiences with prizes and discounts, and TCGplayer demonstrations. The eBay Live auction of “The 30/30 Collection” will conclude the day’s festivities.
“For 30 years, eBay has been the travel-to destination for rare and coveted Pokémon inventory, and excitement for the franchise only continues to grow,” said Adam Ireland, Vice President and General Manager of Global Collectibles at eBay. “The ‘30/30 Collection’ brings 30 years of Pokémon history to life through eBay Live, with a range of inventory you can only find on our marketplace, and a thrilling live shopping experience that fosters community in real-time, reflecting how the fandom connects and collects today.”
Global Reach and Continued Demand
Beyond the live auction and New York City event, Pokémon collectors worldwide can explore a curated selection of over 500 premium listings sourced from the U.S., Japan, Canada, the U.K., Australia, China, and Germany, available for auction through March 1. The popular Pokémon x LEGO collaboration sets are also available on eBay. According to eBay data, searches for Pikachu items increased by more than 120% as excitement built toward the 30th anniversary, while searches for Pokémon bags spiked by over 270% as the franchise gained visibility in fashion and lifestyle spaces.
eBay data also reveals a strong interest in retro Pokémon gaming, with searches for Pokémon Nintendo items exceeding 160 per hour in 2025. Pokémon shows consistently rank among the highest-streamed categories on eBay Live, demonstrating the platform’s continued relevance to the Pokémon community.
As eBay continues to serve as a central marketplace for Pokémon collectibles, the company’s ongoing initiatives, like “The 30/30 Collection” and the eBay Live events, aim to connect collectors and celebrate the enduring legacy of the Pokémon franchise. The auction and related events represent a significant moment for both long-time collectors and newcomers to the hobby.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming auction? Share your favorite Pokémon memories and collectibles in the comments below!
