Boston · Pokémon Card Appraisal

Your childhood cards
might be worth more
than you think.

Expert, independent appraisals for vintage Pokémon collections, so you know exactly what you have before you sell, trade, or let a card shop lowball you.

Book a Free Consult See pricing →
1999–2002
Vintage era specialist
100%
Independent. We don't buy.
Boston
In-person, local service
The problem
Card shops aren't on your side. We are.

Card shops lowball

Shops need to profit on resale. They'll offer 20–40% of market value on most cards, and most people don't know enough to push back.

Condition is everything

A near-mint 1st Edition card can be worth 10× a played copy. Tiny details, centering, scratches, print lines, dramatically change value.

Prices move fast

The Pokémon card market surged over 400% since 2020. Cards that seemed worthless a few years ago may now fund a vacation.

Services & pricing
What we offer

Flat-fee appraisals with no surprises.

Starter

Quick Look

$50 / up to 100 cards

Perfect for a small collection or a single binder. You'll leave knowing what you have.

  • Condition assessment on all cards
  • Rough collection value estimate
  • Written summary PDF
  • Flags anything notable
Most popular

Standard

$100 / 101–250 cards

The most common childhood collection size. Includes everything you need to make a confident decision.

  • Everything in Quick Look
  • Per-card value for top 20 cards
  • Sell vs. hold recommendations
  • Grading candidates flagged
Full collection

Deep Dive

$150 / 251–500 cards

For larger collections with more to unpack. Includes a full spreadsheet you can keep.

  • Everything in Standard
  • Full spreadsheet inventory
  • Priority grading candidates
  • Market timing notes
Large / estate

Custom Quote

Contact us / 500+ cards

Estate collections, inherited lots, or anything requiring extra depth. Quoted based on scope.

  • Full inventory spreadsheet
  • High-value card deep dives
  • Grading submission prep
  • Ongoing consultation available
What's next

Once you know what you have, we'll help you figure out what to do with it.

Not every collection should be sold the same way. After your appraisal, we'll give you honest, straightforward guidance on your best options, whether that's selling to a local card shop for a quick return, listing individual cards online to maximize value, or holding onto the ones worth waiting on. No pressure, no upsell. Just good advice.

Local card shops
We'll tell you what a fair offer looks like so you walk in knowing your floor, and don't leave money on the table.
Selling online
eBay, TCGPlayer, Facebook Marketplace. We'll point you to the right platform for the right cards and explain what to expect.
Grading & holding
Some cards are worth more graded, and some are worth waiting on. We'll flag which ones and explain why.
Process
How it works

Simple, transparent, and done at your pace. No commitment until you're ready.

1

Free consult

Book a free 10-minute call or message. Tell us roughly how many cards you have and what era they're from.

2

We meet in person

We come to you, or meet at a convenient Boston location. Bring your collection. No prep needed.

3

Full appraisal

We assess condition, research current market prices, and flag anything valuable. You watch if you want.

4

Written report

You receive a clear summary with estimated values, recommendations, and next steps. No jargon.

What clients say
Real results, real people

A sample of the feedback we've received helping friends and early clients discover the value in their collections.

"
★★★★★

I had a shoebox of cards from the late 90s gathering dust. Turned out I had a 1st Edition Charizard in near-mint condition. Without CardStock Appraisals I would have sold it for $50 at a flea market.

Michael R.
South End, Boston · ~280 cards appraised
"
★★★★★

The card shop near me offered me $120 for my whole collection. After getting an appraisal I sold three cards individually for over $600. Worth every penny of the appraisal fee.

Sarah K.
Cambridge, MA · Standard appraisal
"
★★★★★

Super knowledgeable and completely honest. He told me most of my cards weren't worth much, but explained exactly why, and helped me figure out which three to submit for grading.

Dave T.
Somerville, MA · Deep Dive + grading consult
Andrew Isidoro, CardStock Appraisals
About
Hi, I'm Andrew.

I grew up collecting Pokémon cards in the late 90s: the binders, the trades, the excitement of pulling a rare card. Like a lot of collectors, I eventually stepped away from the hobby as life moved on.

A few years ago I found myself rediscovering it: digging out old collections, following the market, and realizing just how much the landscape had changed since the 90s. What had once been a childhood hobby had become a serious market, with prices and nuances that are genuinely difficult to navigate if you've been away from it.

When friends heard I was back into it, they started bringing me their own childhood collections, and in more than one case, their cards were worth hundreds. That experience is what led me to start CardStock Appraisals.

I offer honest, independent appraisals with no conflict of interest. I'm not looking to buy your cards. I'm here to make sure you know exactly what they're worth before you decide what to do with them.

Vintage specialist · 1999–2002
Boston-based · In-person only
Independent · Never a buyer
Get started
Book your appraisal

The consult is free. The appraisal fee is paid at the time of service, after you've had a chance to ask questions.

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Boston area, in-person We come to you, or meet at a mutually convenient location.
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Typical turnaround Most appraisals are completed same-day. Large collections may take 2–3 days.
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Fully independent We don't buy or sell cards ourselves. No conflict of interest, ever.
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Email us directly hello@cardstockappraisals.com

Helpful shots: open binders, any holos or 1st edition cards, backs of cards you're unsure about. Up to 10 photos.