The global appeal of collectible sports trading cards

TRADING cards have been around for decades. Collectors from all over the world fork out big bucks for packs or even entire boxes of these cards – everything from basketball and football, to Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering – as they try and form a complete set, or to obtain a rare card with the autograph of a star athlete or artist.

For some collectors, these are more than just a hobby, but a lucrative investment too. One avid collector whom The Business Times spoke to has gone so far as to keep his most valuable sports cards locked up in two black briefcases at home.

“I’ve told my wife that if anything happens to the house, forget about everything else. Just take the briefcases and run,” says Brandon Tan, a 43-year-old engineer who currently works in Singapore.