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📰 This Week in Collectibles News - 05/18/2025

The collectible space doesn’t sleep—and neither do we. Here’s your weekly dose of what’s popping, dropping, and shaking things up across the hobby world.

  • 🧠 CryptoPunks IP Acquired by Infinite Node Foundation
    In a major shift for digital art, Yuga Labs has handed off the CryptoPunks IP to the Infinite Node Foundation—a nonprofit focused on preserving digital culture. NODE plans to exhibit all 10,000 Punks in a permanent gallery. A $20M play that could redefine NFT history.

  • 🔁 Leadership Change at DeGods
    Big moves at DeGods as Frank officially steps down as CEO. Leadership now shifts to @0x_chill and @pastagotsauce. The result? DeGods sales volume doubled across Solana and ETH. The floor didn’t flinch—community held strong.

  • 📦 Fanable’s Indie Comics Drop Sells Out Instantly
    TMNT, Spawn, Invincible, and more packed into one epic indie mystery case—gone in hours. Fanable continues to prove that blockchain-backed physical comics are the next wave.

  • 👶 Grogu’s First Appearance on VeVe Sells Out, Secondary Market Surges
    Baby Yoda mania hits again. FA Grogu sold out on Day 1, and the floor price rocketed to ~$250. From $69.99 retail to the moon. Don’t underestimate the power of the Force (or the VeVe market).

  • ⚾ 2025 Topps Baseball Series 2 Introduces 'All Kings' Insert Cards
    Topps drops a new insert set fit for royalty. “All Kings” includes Judge, Ohtani, Mantle & Jackie Robinson. Card art’s 🔥, and collectors are already chasing the crown.

  • 🏰 Partner Statue FA (Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse) Mint #1955 Sells for $11,000 on VeVe!
    One of the most iconic digital collectibles on VeVe just made a royal splash. The First Appearance of Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse—Mint #1955, the year Disneyland opened—sold for $11,000.
    This isn’t just a collectible, it’s history, and the price reflects that. Premium mints tied to real-world dates continue to prove their value in the digital space. ✨

  • 📊 GoCollect Adds Private Sales to FMV Tracking
    GoCollect just rolled out a major update: the platform now includes verified private sales in its fair market value (FMV) data.
    This is a big step forward, especially for high-end slabs that often change hands in private deals rather than public auctions. By incorporating this data, GoCollect aims to give collectors a more accurate, real-world picture of value, especially for rare books and elite grades that may not surface on eBay or Heritage often.

    🔍 Why it matters:

    • Reduces price distortion caused by low public sale volume

    • Adds transparency to the private market

    • Helps buyers and sellers make smarter decisions backed by deeper data

    This move positions GoCollect as one of the most comprehensive FMV tools in the hobby—especially for serious investors and collectors managing six-figure assets.

  • 🧟‍♂️ Punk #3609 just sold for 440 ETH ($1,083,222 USD)
    Another massive 7-figure sale reminding everyone that elite NFTs are far from dead. The zombie lives… and it's flexing hard. 📈💎

  • 🦇 Bat Cowls Are Back in Action — And Rarity Still Rules

    Two standout sales just hit Candy Digital:

    🔹 Bat Cowl #82610 – Sold for $2,000
    🔹 Bat Cowl #84959 – Sold for $2,100

    These aren’t just digital art pieces — they’re part of DC’s officially licensed Bat Cowl collection, a Web3 project where each cowl is one-of-one, generated from a unique mix of attributes like ear length, visor shape, material texture, and color combinations.

    What makes these two sales notable? Both feature visually rare traits and bold designs that help them stand out from the 11,544-piece collection — and rarity is still a major driver of value in the Bat Cowl ecosystem.

    Some traits occur in less than 1% of all cowls, and collectors continue to pay premiums for distinctive builds, thematic colorways (think: red accents, metallics), and cowls with a clean, minimal aesthetic. These recent $2K+ sales show that when it comes to collecting Bat Cowls, style and scarcity still speak volumes.

    With community features like exclusive story voting, digital comic appearances, and future interoperability, it’s clear: Gotham’s finest are still making noise in the Web3 space.

🚨 Big Announcement 🚨

Nerdcave77 is now an official sponsor of the @OmilliTees Show!
We’re incredibly proud to support one of the top Spaces on X—a hub where digital collectors come together to talk shop, drop alpha, and build community.

Whether you're a seasoned degen or just getting started, the @OmilliTees Show is the spot for digital collecting insights, great vibes, and meaningful conversations.

🎤 Follow @OmilliTees and tune in.
🎁 We’ll be giving back to the community through future show-exclusive giveaways and collabs.
📢 This is just the beginning—more value, more access, more heat on the way.

🔨 Auction Watch

The hunt for grails never stops—especially when they come from the vaults of legendary collectors. This week’s headlines are dominated by Part 2 of the Jeff Jacob Star Wars Collection, with some of the rarest vintage figures and vehicles we’ve ever seen hitting the auction block. Whether you’re buying, watching, or just dreaming—this is where the action lives.

💰 Top 5 Auction Sales This Week

  1. 🔦 Star Wars (1978) – Darth Vader 12 Back-A (DT Saber) | AFA 80 NM
    One of the rarest production Star Wars figures ever made: a Double-Telescoping Darth Vader, 12 Back-A, graded AFA 80 NM. Only 4 known in this grade. This grail just hammered for $130,095 — the Force is strong with this one.

  2. 🐍 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) – Jabba the Hutt Action Playset | AFA 85 NM+
    This throne room just commanded royal money. Graded AFA 85 NM+, this is the highest-graded example on record—with none higher in the pop report. It sold for a staggering $38,940, proving Jabba still runs the galaxy’s underworld (and the auction block).

  3. 🧪 Star Wars: The Power of the Force (1985) – Yak Face 92 Back | AFA 90 Y-NM/Mint
    The legend of Yak Face continues to grow. This Kenner Canada release is graded AFA 90—none higher exist in the population report. A true gem from the final Kenner wave, it closed at $23,737.82. Proof that rarity, condition, and origin still drive serious premiums.

  4. 🎯 Star Wars (1979) – Boba Fett Mailer Envelope & Figure | AFA 85 NM+
    Boba’s always been a fan-favorite, but this early Kenner mail-away version—complete with the large catalog and graded AFA 85 NM+—is especially lethal. With none higher in the pop report, this bounty closed at $22,066, showing Fett’s value isn’t just myth… it’s market fact.

  5. 🛸 Star Wars (1979) – Darth Vader TIE Fighter | AFA 85 NM+
    A centerpiece vehicle from the vintage Kenner line, this AFA 85 NM+ graded Vader TIE Fighter is as clean as it gets — with none higher in the population report. This iconic ship just blasted off for $21,240, making it one of the top Star Wars vehicle sales of the year.

🛍 Finds of the Week

Every collector loves a good deal—and this week, we hunted down CGC 9.8s and digital grails priced below their fair market value. Whether you're looking to flip, stash, or finally grab that sleeper, these listings are worth a serious look.

  1. 🧲 Tales of Suspense #97 (Digital – Secret Rare Cover)
    This Silver Age key features the first appearance of Whiplash, a classic Iron Man villain, and kicks off the first solo Iron Man storyline in the Tales of Suspense run. The physical CGC 9.8 commands a $1,000 FMV, but on VeVe, the Secret Rare digital cover is a steal—only 34 exist, with just 4 currently for sale. Current floor: $60.
    🔥 Major first appearance, ultra-low supply, and trading at just 6% of the physical FMV.

    Bonus: New to VeVe? Save $10 on your first collectible with our affiliate link 💸veve.sjv.io/MAyaPn

2-🌌 Star Wars #43 (CGC 9.8) – First Appearance of Lando Calrissian
A must-have for Star Wars fans and key issue hunters—this book features the first comic appearance of Lando Calrissian. With Lando’s Disney+ series still in development, this one’s heating up again. https://ebay.us/m/7RKQpi
✳️ FMV: $240
✳️ Current Buy It Now: $210
✳️ ~12.5% below market value

💡 Collecting Tips

Each week we drop a quick strategy to help you collect smarter, spot opportunities, and stay ahead of the hobby curve. Whether you're flipping or long-term holding, a small edge goes a long way.

🤖 Use AI to Snipe Collectibles Under FMV

AI tools like ChatGPT now make it possible to search live listings and compare them to fair market value (FMV) in real time. That means you can uncover undervalued gems before they’re gone.

Here’s the actual prompt we used to find this week’s “Finds”:

❝

🧠 Prompt:
“Search broadly for CGC 9.8-graded comic books currently listed on eBay with the 'Buy It Now' purchase option. Identify listings that are priced below their Fair Market Value (FMV) according to GoCollect. Include the title, issue, year, eBay price, FMV, and savings %.”

ChatGPT will return a clean table with undervalued listings — ready for you to act on.

✨ Pro Tip: You can swap “CGC 9.8 comic books” for “sealed Pokémon booster boxes,” “graded sports cards,” “Star Wars vintage figures,” or whatever you’re chasing.

This isn’t the future. This is now.

Want to level up your flipping game with AI?
Make sure to subscribe to today’s sponsor—they’ll help you turn curiosity into skills and skills into wins.

🎁 Giveaway Time!

This week we’re switching things up…

Instead of a digital collectible, we’re giving away a sealed Indie Comic Case from Fanable’s sold-out drop! 💥 Featuring CGC-graded indie heat from TMNT, Spawn, Invincible, and more.

How to Enter:
✅ Follow us on X
👀 Be on the lookout for our giveaway announcement post
📦 One lucky collector will win the case—no purchase necessary

Let’s keep the hobby fun and give back to the community one slab at a time. Good luck, fam!

🔥 Upcoming Heat

From digital drops to physical launches, here’s what collectors should have on their radar this week. Limited runs, big firsts, and potential sleepers—don’t blink or you might miss your shot.

  1. 🎤 Travis Scott & Lamine Yamal – 2025 FC Barcelona Topps NOW® Card 1
    A crossover for the ages: hip-hop icon Travis Scott and FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal team up on this Topps NOW® release. Available from May 15 to May 22, 2025, this card offers collectors a chance at:

    • Open-edition base cards

    • Foil parallels numbered to /50 and lower

    • A 1/1 dual autograph redemption card
      Priced at $11.99, with bulk discounts available.

  1. 🏁 Star Wars™ Vehicles Series 6 – Podracers (VeVe)
    Now this is podracing. A full blind box drop featuring Anakin, Sebulba, Gasgano, Ben Quadinaros, and even a Pit Droid, each with unique crafting utility.
    🗓 Drop Date: May 19 @ 8AM PT
    💵 Price: $29.99
    📦 Editions: 1,019–1,999
    ✨ Includes Secret Rare, Ultra Rare, and Rare digital collectibles
    🔧 Crafting mechanic unlocks custom “Podracer Base” 3D displays (no burn required, but deadline is May 19, 2026)

If you're into Phantom Menace nostalgia, limited Star Wars 3D collectibles, or utility-based digital assets—this one’s pod-gold.

🚀 New to VeVe?
Use our link to save $10 on your first collectible:
👉https://veve.sjv.io/MAyaPn

  1. 🎨 Funko Digital Pop! – Dungeons & Dragons Series 2
    Funko's back with another legendary crossover, this time diving deep into the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse. Series 2 features digital Pop! versions of iconic characters and creatures—each with a shot at unlocking physical, limited-edition Funko Pops you can't find anywhere else.

📍 Platform: Droppp.io

🎁 Pack Options:

  • Standard Pack – 11.27 USDC
    ✳️ Contains 5 random Digital Pops
    ✳️ Pulls range from Common → Grail

  • Premium Pack – 32.60 USDC
    ✳️ Contains 17 random Digital Pops
    ✳️ Better odds of Legendary or Grail pulls

💥 Physical redeemables include:

  • Vecna, Displacer Beast, Gelatinous Cube, and more
    🔥 Limited print runs — once they sell out, they’re gone for good.

🚨 VeVe Drop Postponed — But Worth the Wait!

For the first time ever, collectors were set to experience the Stormtrooper Helmet – Cross Section 3D digital collectible on VeVe.. And yes, it’s officially part of Star Wars canon.

This groundbreaking release features:
🦾 A split-view design revealing both front and back interiors
⚙️ Tap-to-animate functionality that opens the helmet into two sections
👀 Detailed inner workings of one of Star Wars’ most iconic designs

Unfortunately, due to unexpected technical complications, the drop has been postponed to today at 3:00pm EST . Stay tuned — this one’s too good to miss.

🚀 New to VeVe?
You can participate in this drop for free! Create your account and claim your $10 using our link: 👉 https://veve.sjv.io/MAyaPn - Grab your first collectible and start your digital collection today! 🔥📲

📈 Top 5 Comics by Sales Volume (This Week)

These books aren’t just hot—they’re flying off shelves. Based on week-over-week sales spikes, here are the comics dominating the market right now.
📊 Data sourced from Key Collector Comics

  1. ⚡ Nova #1 (1976) – Marvel
    📈 +125% increase in sales
    The first appearance of Nova (Richard Rider) is on fire again as rumors swirl about a potential live-action Annihilators project. A foundational cosmic key with major MCU potential.

    🔑 Also features:
    • 1st Rhomann Dey (Nova Corps)
    • 1st Robbie Rider
    💵 FMV Range: Low $12 | Mid $45 | High $130

  1. 🛠 Thor #337 (1983) – Marvel
    📈 +109% increase in sales
    The first appearance of Beta Ray Bill, the Korbinite warrior worthy of Mjolnir, is spiking amid Annihilators speculation. A Bronze Age classic that’s been under the radar for too long.

    🔑 Also features:
    • 1st Lorelai (Enchantress’ sister)
    💵 FMV Range: Low $8 | Mid $20 | High $80

  1. 🧬 Uncanny X-Men #49 (1968) – Marvel
    📈 +114% increase in sales
    The first appearance of Polaris (Lorna Dane) is trending thanks to rumors that Neve Campbell may voice the character in an upcoming MCU animated project.

    🔑 Also includes:
    • 1st Mesmero
    • Origin of Beast begins
    💵 FMV Range: Low $35 | Mid $90 | High $350

  1. ☠️ Revival #1 (2012) – Image
    📈 +114% increase in sales
    SyFy’s upcoming TV adaptation has revived interest (pun intended) in this modern zombie noir. Two weeks on the list and still climbing after the trailer dropped.

    🔑 Officer Dana Cypress leads the undead arbitration squad
    💵 FMV Range: Low $1 | Mid $5 | High $15

  1. ⚔️ Avengers vs. X-Men #1 (2012) – Marvel
    📈 +113% increase in sales
    The clash of titans could return—speculation around Avengers: Doomsday possibly including this team-up (or showdown) has driven sales back up.

    🔑 2nd appearance of Nova (Sam Alexander)
    💵 FMV Range: Low $1 | Mid $2 | High $3

📊 Top NFT Projects of the Week by Sales Volume

  1. Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC)

    • Sales Volume: $3.2 million

    • Floor Price: 12.75 ETH

    • Trend: 📈 +2% this week

    • Overview: The OG blue-chip project shows continued strength with a modest rise in floor and steady demand.

  2. Pudgy Penguins

    • Sales Volume: $1.2 million

    • Floor Price: 9.97 ETH

    • Trend: 📉 -0.2% this week

    • Overview: Slight dip, but still holding strong as one of the most culturally relevant and brand-savvy collections out there.

  3. Lil Pudgys

    • Sales Volume: $850,000

    • Floor Price: 1.28 ETH

    • Trend: 📈 +0.8% this week

    • Overview: Gaining quiet momentum, likely tied to Pudgy Penguins ecosystem expansion and onboarding efforts.

  4. Doodles

    • Sales Volume: $780,000

    • Floor Price: 1.20 ETH

    • Trend: 📉 -4.7% this week

    • Overview: Still finding its footing in the market—some holders showing signs of repositioning after recent news/events.

  5. Courtyard.io

    • Sales Volume: $650,000

    • Floor Price: <0.01 WETH

    • Trend: 📉 -4.7% this week

    • Overview: While still early, Courtyard’s push to tokenize physical collectibles is one to watch. Low floor + high upside potential for new collectors entering the space.

🧠 Weekly Wrap-Up

Whether you’ve been collecting for decades or just found your first grail—thank you for being here.

Every week, we’re building something bigger than drops and auctions. We're building a community of people who love the hunt, the history, and the stories behind every collectible—digital or physical.

Your time, your attention, and your trust mean everything to us. And we’re just getting started.

We’ll see you next Sunday at 11AM ET with more news, more finds, and more reasons to be excited about this space.

Until then—stay curious, stay kind, and most of all… stay collecting.

—
✍️ With gratitude,
The Nerdcave77 Team