Pokémon Base Set booster packs, from the original 1999 release, are getting more expensive each month because they are rare sealed products with high collector demand and very limited supply left unopened after over 25 years.
These packs come from the first English Pokémon Trading Card Game set, known as the Base Set. Back then, Wizards of the Coast printed them in booster packs of 11 cards each, often sold in boxes of 36 packs. Most have been opened over the years for chasing rare cards like Charizard holographics, leaving few sealed packs or boxes intact today. As time passes, the remaining sealed ones become even scarcer, driving up prices on sites like eBay and TCG marketplaces.
Demand plays a huge role. Nostalgia fuels it, with adult collectors who grew up in the 90s returning to the hobby. Younger fans discover the Base Set through online videos and social media, seeing it as the foundation of Pokémon cards. Videos from collectors show sealed Base Set booster boxes hitting high prices on the secondary market, similar to trends in other vintage sets where scarcity pushes values up monthly. For example, older sets like XY era products have jumped from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000 in a year due to the same collector rush.
Market trends add pressure. In 2025, new booster packs have been hard to find at retail, making vintage sealed products like Base Set even more appealing. Collectors avoid overpaying for modern packs by turning to classics, where prices climb steadily. Supply can’t keep up because no new Base Set packs are printed, and hoarding by big investors reduces what’s available. Recent talks in Pokémon communities note booster boxes from early sets holding or gaining value despite dips in newer releases.
Economic factors contribute too. Inflation and higher shipping costs make everything pricier, but for Base Set packs, it’s mostly rarity. A single unopened pack that sold for $200 a couple years ago now fetches $400 or more, with monthly increases as auctions show fresh sales data. This pattern holds because each month, fewer packs surface from old collections, and buyers compete fiercely.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIT9rncQE60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6J3c0diDsQQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1d5bFPNhS8
https://japan-figure.com/th/blogs/news/best-pokemon-packs-to-buy
https://www.tcgplayer.com/content/article/The-10-Most-Expensive-Pok%C3%A9mon-Cards-of-2025/7f39e243-6210-44e0-9fe2-0e62d6ca83fb/
