For many collectors, Pokémon booster packs are a piece of pure nostalgia. A sealed pack from the early days of the TCG carries not only the thrill of what might be inside, but also a piece of history. Older sets in particular are rare these days because most booster packs were opened long ago. That makes unopened booster packs enormously sought after, and sometimes even more expensive than the cards inside.

Here are the 5 most expensive booster packs currently offered on GetCollectr, with their background and price.

1. Base Set Booster Pack [1st Edition] – €8,000

The very first Pokémon booster pack, and immediately the holy grail for collectors. These packs come from the 1st Edition Base Set (1999) and can hold cards such as Charizard, Blastoise or Venusaur in their original artwork. Because of the extreme rarity and historical value, the price passes thousands of euros with ease.

2. Team Rocket Returns Booster Pack – €1,999.99

Team Rocket Returns from 2004 is one of the best-loved EX Series sets. It introduced beautiful EX cards, unique Dark Pokémon and even Gold Star cards. The packs are scarce today and therefore extremely popular with high-end collectors.

3. Skyridge Booster Pack – €1,774.50

Skyridge (2003) is legendary because it was the last set printed by Wizards of the Coast. It holds iconic cards such as Crystal Charizard and Umbreon. The eReader style and small print runs make these booster packs very valuable and hard to find.

4. Legendary Collection Booster Pack – €1,610

Released in 2002, Legendary Collection is notorious for its reverse holo ‘firework’ cards. For many this is pure nostalgia with Base Set and Jungle reprints, but in a unique guise. Sealed packs are rare by now and popular with collectors who appreciate the spectacular holos.

5. Neo Destiny Booster Pack [1st Edition] – €1,500

Neo Destiny (2002) brought the very first Shining Pokémon to market, among them Shining Charizard and Shining Tyranitar. The 1st Edition packs are especially sought after because they offer the chance at these iconic cards. At €1,500 this is a dream object for vintage fans.

Why investing in booster packs can be smart

Unlike single cards, sealed booster packs often hold an even higher collector value because they carry the potential of “the unknown”. First editions and sets with iconic chase cards in particular climb in price year after year. For collectors who want not only to enjoy the nostalgia but also to make an investment, these packs are among the most solid choices.