Collectors and enthusiasts converged in Sydney for the Collectibles Festival, featuring rare Pokémon cards, vintage gaming consoles, and classic arcade games.

Council of the City of Sydney

Sydney hosted the annual Collectibles Festival, drawing collectors and fans from across the region. Among the highlights was Asif Mir, a long-time Pokémon card collector and seller, who discussed the booming market for Pokémon memorabilia. Some cards on display at his Pro Collectors Australia store were valued up to $50,000, with a complete set reportedly offered $600,000 in the past.

The festival also featured other rare items, such as a sealed, graded Nintendo 64 console valued at over $10,000, showcased by Johnny McLoonan of Nintendo Down Under. Attendees enjoyed a nostalgic experience with classic arcade games, including pinball machines, underscoring the enduring appeal and investment potential of collectibles.

Rare Pokémon cards on offer at collectors festival

It is a collector's dream. Mystery bags guys! That's Asif Mir, a passionate Pokemon card collector and seller who's been catching them all since 1995. Around the world there's been a massive resurgence in the Japanese franchise. So lucrative right now, so not only is it a passion only, Pokemon is legit booming in the papers, the stock market's money, everything you can think of. Asif is cashing in on the Pokemon phenomenon, buying his first home. Within three months I bought a house in Marsden Park. I actually just sold it at the start of this year. The business made me buy the house, then I sold the house to buy the business back again. Crowds were searching far and wide at his Pro Collectors Australia store today, one of 500 to feature at this year's Collectibles Festival. So in our store today, I think the most expensive card we got was $4,000 or $5,000, but some of the ones you'll see around here today, some of them too, $20,000, $50,000. We have a first edition PSA 10 Charizard, not for sale just yet, but we're thinking about it. We got offered last, I think last year around sometime, for $600,000 for the whole set. Meanwhile, over at the Nintendo Down Under store, Johnny McLoonan showed off his most prized possession. One of my favourite game consoles in my collection I brought today is this brand new, graded sealed Nintendo 64 from Europe. It's probably worth $10,000 plus. So you haven't opened it yet? I've never opened it and I never will. We also both shared our love for one of Nintendo's ultimate classic games. GoldenEye 007, Bond, James Bond. It was now time to take a walk down memory lane to the Pinball Arcade. Alright, Alex, what's your top score on the TDOF? On TDOF, my top score's about 2.5 billion. OK, right. Well, I think I'm going to have a crack. Go for it. But before I do that, I need to get myself pumped up. Very best that no-one ever was. To catch them is my real test. To train them is my cause. Alright, 2.5 billion is the top score on this machine. Let's see if I can beat it. Huh? Game over? It's a lot harder than it looks. I'll keep trying. Daniel Doody, 10 News.

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