POKEMON ERROR: 1 & Only 1998 LTD Edition Factory-Sealed Horsea vs. Koffing in Charmeleon vs. Paras Package
AVAILABLE NOWHERE ELSE ON THE PLANET
Collectibility in the present case is not based on arbitrary or time-limited valuations, such as those attributed to the popularity, for example, of a card or beanie.
Rather, it's an exclusive manufacturing aberration, AKA: a random act of God, comparable to a one-of-a-kind coin which, incidental to cards and beanies, involves both pristine cardboard and sealed stuffed characters.
It's One of a Special Kind. Consider the market value of another One-of-a-Kind piece, documented below (and fully referenced further down in the listing).
MSN HEADLINE DATE 02/07/2017:
(DOCUMENTED IN ITS ENTIRETY UNDER "REFERENCES" BELOW)
Harambe-Shaped Cheeto Reaches Bid of Nearly $100K on EBay
It is comparable to the Gorilla Cheeto in the sense it will always exist as uniquely iconic and, hence, always be singularly collectible.
True, it is inedible. On the upside (and, granted, I'm only speculating here) it may be less perishable. On the "always" scale, little details like that do influence trajectory on the long-term value of an item.
NOTE: SINCE I FIRST LISTED THIS PIECE, I'VE LOCATED THE (INITIALED & DATED) CARLTON "CELEBRATION CARD" I HAD STAMPED TO RECORD THE PURCHASE, AS PER THE HISTORY I SHARED BELOW (see Illustrations 4 & 5).
IT'S A RARE MEANS BY WHICH TO BOLSTER PROVENANCE. THE RECEIPTS WE RETAINED FROM OUR PURCHASES BACK THEN HAVE LONG-SINCE FADED TO THE POINT OF USELESSNESS. THIS CARD, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS A PERFECTLY PRESERVED REMNANT OF THE TRANSACTION.
IT'S A POSITIVE SPIN ON A PROMOTION WHICH WAS OTHERWISE PRETTY UNDERWHELMING. YOU'LL NOTE, I WAS ONLY ABLE TO RECORD FOUR PURCHASES AT CARLTON'S BACK IN 1999 BEFORE IT LEFT THE MALL. IN ORDER TO HAVE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE "$5.00 OFF," AS ADVERTISED, I'D HAVE HAD TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL 11 PURCHASES...
I WILL GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR AESTHETICS, HOWEVER: THE FLORAL ARRANGEMENT USED TO REGISTER THE STAMPS WILL MAKE AN ATTRACTIVE, FRAMEABLE KEEPSAKE FOR THE NEXT OWNER.
NOTE: from yet another of those MSN "Your Vintage Toys May be Worth a Fortune," stories (quoted herein on 12/13/18): Laurie Anderson Dowell, a toy collector in California says: “The most
important feature to a toy’s value is usually whether it is in its
original packaging, and what kind of condition the box, card, or bubble
is in. MIP (mint in package) and MIB (mint in box) toys are more highly
covetable [sic].”
Though I doubt that comes as a revelation to most of us...
BONA FIDE TREASURE
Two Obscure First Generation Pokémon, Koffing & Horsea, Impeccably Sealed (see Illustrations) in a Package which Advertises One of the Most Beloved Poké Ever to do Battle, Charmander, verses Paras.
Pokémon's Legacy as an International Phenomenon is Not Only Firmly Established, it's Actually Growing in Popularity. Since 1998, when Topeka, Kansas, renamed itself "ToPikachu" to mark Pokemon's U.S. debut (Bloomberg), it has Existed as an American Icon.
As an Exclusive 1st Generation Aberration, the Current Offering will Only Appreciate in Value. The Provenance is Singular & Unimpeachable.
TRUE STORY...
I Discovered this Piece while Searching for an Actual Charmander vs. Paras Battle Set in a Carlton's Gift Shop on the (now Defunct) Irondequoit Mall in Rochester, N.Y. Like many Children in 1999, my 5-Year Old Son wanted Char Everything.
Like many Parents in the late ninties, I was Obsessively Dedicated to Making sure Our Children (there's also a Daughter; We have the Set) wanted for Nothing. Back then, Acquiring Pokémon wasn't merely a Matter of Money but, rather, Insane Diligence.
It was an Era both Great and Terrible.