Pokemon Trading CardsThe Pokemon trading cards first hit US soil in 1998. This was the same time that the Pokemon Game Boy games came to the country along with an instant hit television series from Warner Brothers. Pokemon quickly became everything to elementary aged children all over the country. The Pokemon cards, backed by the television series, movies, and video games soon became the alpha and omega of children’s collecting focus. To understand how big of a deal Pokemon trading cards have become, you need look no further than the fakes. That is right, there are a number of fake Pokemon cards out there. When something begins to truly have value, you can count on it being duplicated or counterfeited. Pokemon cards are no exception. Fakes are popping up all over the internet and in collectibles shops across the country. The problem is that children are the ones most affected by it. The value of Pokemon cards is obviously dependent upon their being real. So how do you spot a fake Pokemon card? There are five features to look at when you are trying to identify the authenticity of a Pokemon card. 1. First of all, look for obvious image problems such as dull color, wrong color (don’t worry, your kids will know if the character is the wrong color) or overall dullness. 2. Fake Pokemon cards will likely be without the Nintendo trademark or may be lacking the copyright information that should be somewhere on the package. 3. Feel the cards and make sure that they feel like other Pokemon cards you or your child has in his or her collection. Fakes are often manufactured with cheaper, thinner stock. 4. The cards should appear to be two pieces of stock glued together and you should not be able to see the back of the card through the front when you hold it up to light. Finally, if you happen to be getting a holofoils card, just look it over good since it is difficult to duplicate the effect in counterfeit cards. 5. Lastly, remember that the value of Pokemon cards is generally lost if they are damaged at all. However, maybe you or your children don’t care about the value of Pokemon cards. Younger children will certainly not be interested in the value of Pokemon cards, but they will care about how many they have. So, as a parent, you want to find affordable cards. Better yet, you probably would love to find free Pokemon cards. Though free Pokemon cards may not be easy to find, you will, if you keep your eyes open, find special offers and deals from time to time, especially online. Pokemon trading cards don’t seem to be going anywhere. They have taken hold of the elementary school population, and even some adults. It is a phenomenon that continues to grow, and can certainly not be ignored in the collecting world. Take some time to educate yourself about them and you just might find that you can help your child enter the intriguing world of collectibles. |