📰Weekly Collectible News

It’s been a massive week in the world of collecting—both digital and physical. From iconic props and red-hot comic drops to leadership shakeups and record-breaking sellouts, here’s what’s been making waves across the hobby. Whether you’re flipping slabs or stacking digital grails, these are the headlines worth knowing:

The legendary red bicycle from Pee-wee's Big Adventure just sold for $125,000 at Van Eaton Galleries—more than double its projected value. Built by BMX pioneer Gary Littlejohn and screen-matched to scenes from the 1985 film, the bike remains one of the most iconic props in movie history. The sale also comes ahead of the upcoming docuseries Pee-wee as Himself, following the legacy of the late Paul Reubens.

New data shows the second-hand collectibles market hit $142.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $249 billion by 2034, growing at 6.4% annually. The rise is driven by sustainable shopping habits, the appeal of affordable grails, and rising interest from younger collectors entering the hobby via digital and resale platforms.

Coinbase is now the exclusive crypto partner for League of Legends and Valorant esports events. The deal introduces blockchain-based fan rewards, new analytics segments like Gold Grind and Econ Report, and educational content aimed at onboarding fans to Web3 without disrupting gameplay. Expect giveaways, in-game perks, and even contest-based trips to major tournaments.

The highly anticipated VeeFriends Topps Chrome trading card set officially dropped on May 7 and completely sold out across most platforms within hours. Hobby boxes flew off the shelves, and while some blasters may still be trickling through retail, the hype was real.

This first-time collaboration between VeeFriends and Topps brought GaryVee’s characters into the physical card space with a premium chrome finish. The set includes a 100-card base checklist, rare parallels, and fun insert sets like “Sketch to Screen” and “VeeFriends Y2K,” giving collectors both nostalgia and new-school vibes.

The success of the launch shows just how strong the VeeFriends brand has become—crossing over from digital into traditional collectibles in a big way.

Fanable’s Autograph Collection mystery cases sold out immediately on May 8. Each of the 75 sealed cases included a CGC-graded comic signed by legends like Stan Lee, Jim Lee, or Todd McFarlane. The drop offered a 90% FMV buyback guarantee, raising the bar for premium digital-physical hybrids in the collectibles world.

In a bold restructuring move, VeVe is returning to a leaner, founder-led leadership model to move faster and scale smarter. As part of this shift, Ben Rose will depart the company, following major contributions such as expanding VeVe Comics and helping launch VeVeVerse. Founders Dan and David will outline the next chapter in a special update video next week. The move signals a renewed focus on agility and long-term growth in the evolving digital collectibles space.

Doodles officially launched its new token, $DOOD, this week on the Solana blockchain—alongside a major airdrop that rewarded NFT holders and early ecosystem participants.
The total supply was capped at 10 billion tokens, with airdrops covering Doodles holders, newcomers, and liquidity incentives. While early price action was volatile, the launch marks a major step in Doodles’ push to expand its ecosystem with community-powered tools, content creation rewards, and future integrations through its DreamNet protocol.

Held by Goldin, the April 2025 Pop Culture Elite Auction delivered some jaw-dropping results and headline-worthy hammer prices. We’ve combed through the catalog and locked in the top 10 highest-selling items—from record-breaking Pokémon cards to vintage tech and pop culture legends. Here’s what led the charge at the auction block.

1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Charizard #4 – PSA 10
🔥 Sold for $213,500 (20 bids)
The king stays king. Still one of the most iconic and valuable cards in the hobby.

1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Trophy Kangaskhan #115 – PSA 9
💎 Sold for $68,321 (24 bids)
Ultra-rare and historically significant. A true grail from the early days of Japanese events.

1999 Pokémon Snap Gyarados #130 – PSA 7
📸 Sold for $51,113 (26 bids)
From the CoroCoro “Best Photo” promo series tied to Pokémon Snap.

2006 Pokémon EX Holon Phantoms Factory-Sealed Booster Box (36 Packs)
📦 Sold for $45,225 (19 bids)
Sealed heat with potential Gold Star pulls—Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Gyarados.

2007 Factory-Sealed Apple iPhone 1st Gen (4GB Model)
📱 Sold for $43,920 (28 bids)
A tech collectible icon. The original iPhone continues to climb in value.

Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962 Marvel) – CGC 3.5
🕷️ Sold for $40,260 (17 bids)
First appearance of Spider-Man, Uncle Ben, and Aunt May. A forever key in any condition.

1998 Pokémon Snap Koffing #109 – PSA 9 (Pop 4)
🎮 Sold for $37,805 (22 bids)
Another rare Snap promo with extremely low population—highly sought after.

1978 Kenner Star Wars Jawa (Vinyl Cape, 12 Back-A) – AFA 90
🌌 Sold for $33,550 (26 bids)
Ultra-clean, unpunched, and slabbed high. One of the most desirable vintage Star Wars figures.

2024 Pokémon World Championships Promo No. 4 Trainer – PSA 10 (Pop 4)
🏆 Sold for $32,330 (25 bids)
A modern trophy with serious collector appeal and low population.

2024 Topps Chrome Disney Magical Mickey SuperFractor #MM-1 – PSA Authentic
🐭 Sold for $31,720 (23 bids)
A 1-of-1 Mickey Mouse that brought the magic (and the bids).

Whether you're flipping for profit, chasing grails, or just trying to avoid rookie mistakes—this section is for you.

Each week, we drop practical advice, tools, and strategies to help you become a sharper, more informed collector in both the physical and digital space.

Let’s get into it...

ChatGPT just quietly became one of the most powerful tools in your collecting arsenal.

With the introduction of its new shopping and comparison search features, you can now use ChatGPT to research, track, and compare collectibles across platforms in real time—whether you're hunting for undervalued grails, comparing slab prices, or looking for the next flip opportunity.

Here’s why it matters:

ChatGPT can now pull live listings and sales data—across marketplaces—and tell you what’s trending, what’s selling, and what’s sitting. That means less time clicking around and more time finding opportunities.

Whether you’re deciding between CGC 9.6 vs 9.8, or comparing raw vs graded, you can now ask ChatGPT to check what’s listed, what’s sold recently, and if there’s a deal hiding in plain sight.

Spot the gap between recent sales and current listings before the rest of the market does. This isn’t just helpful—it’s a flipping edge. Fast access to price discrepancies = faster decision making.

Whether you’re a hardcore speculator or just trying to make smarter buys, this feature is a game-changer. It’s like having a price guide, scout, and analyst in your back pocket—updated in real time.

Every week, we run a free giveaway for our community of collectors—and this week’s prize is headed to…

Keep an eye on your inbox for details on how to claim your prize.

Didn’t win this time? Don’t worry—we’ve got another one lined up next week. To enter, just make sure you are subscribed, follow us on X, and engage with our posts!

New drops. Big reveals. Fresh grails.

Every week we scan the horizon for what’s about to hit the collecting world—so you’re not just in the loop, you’re ahead of it. Whether it’s a digital mint, a comic first appearance, or a mystery box packed with hype, this is where the action begins.

Here’s what’s coming next...

As part of Candy Digital's May DC3 lineup, the classic Superman (1939-2011) #7 is set to drop on May 21, 2025. Originally published in 1940, this issue features the story "The Three Kingpins of Crime," where Clark Kent and Lois Lane are assigned to interview Metropolis' ambitious prosecuting attorney, George Lash. The narrative unfolds with intrigue and suspense as Superman confronts the city's criminal underworld.

This release is part of Candy Digital's initiative to bring iconic Golden Age comics to modern collectors through their DC3 platform. Collectors can look forward to experiencing this historic issue in a new digital format.

We’ve got an early scoop, courtesy of the folks at Fanable.io 👀

They were kind enough to give Nerdcave77 subscribers an exclusive first look at next week’s mystery case—and it’s looking like a must-watch for indie comic fans. This drop will feature books from independent comic studios, and if the rumors are true, we could be seeing:

This is one of the most exciting lineups we’ve seen yet—don’t sleep on it.

More details coming soon!

Star Wars fans, get ready—VeVe is dropping an exclusive digital collectible series that honors the launch of one of the most iconic characters in recent memory.

Launching May 12, The Mandalorian #1 Framed Art Series features five stunning variant covers presented in a sleek, armour-grade digital frame inspired by Mandalorian tradition.

🎨 Artists featured:

Each piece uses virgin cover art—no logos, no trade dress—just pure illustration. Even better: collect all five variants and you’ll unlock the ability to craft the full framed series.

This drop combines premium presentation, exclusive artwork, and collection mechanics—definitely one to watch.

Not part of VeVe yet?
You can save $10 on this drop or any other collectible by signing up with our exclusive link:
👉 Join VeVe & Get $10 Off… Perfect time to start your digital Star Wars collection. 💫

Here are the top-performing NFT collections ranked by sales volume over the past 7 days:

Note: Sales volumes are based on data from May 2–9, 2025.

Powered by data from Key Collector Comics

These are the top 5 books collectors are chasing right now—fueled by news, trailers, and market buzz. Whether you’re hunting for long-term holds or flip-friendly keys, here’s what’s moving this week:

Thanks for hanging out with us this week—whether you came for the auction action, market trends, upcoming drops, or the heat in both physical and digital collectibles, we appreciate you being here.

A special shoutout to Fanable for giving Nerdcave77 subscribers an exclusive first look at next week’s mystery case. It’s partnerships like this that help us bring real value to our community.

If you haven’t yet, we highly recommend checking them out at Fanable.io. Whether you're looking to store your comics safely in a Brink’s vault or browsing for your next grail, they’re building something special for modern collectors.

📲 Don't forget to install the Nerdcave77 app to stay connected, enter our weekly giveaways, and never miss a drop. We're building something special—and it starts with you.

👉 Until next week: stay curious, stay collecting, and may your hits be legendary.