Rare Kirby e-Reader Card Fetches $10,600 on eBay: A Nintendo E3 2002 Collectible Surfaces

In the world of Nintendo collectibles, few items are as coveted and rare as the Special Edition Kirby e-Reader promo card distributed at E3 2002.

This elusive piece of Nintendo history recently drew the attention of collectors worldwide when it sold for a staggering $10,600 USD on eBay, underscoring its exceptional value and scarcity among Game Boy Advance memorabilia. The Kirby e-Reader promo card stands out not just for its affiliation with a beloved Nintendo franchise but also for its incredible rarity.

Released exclusively to industry attendees during E3 2002, Nintendo produced three distinct versions of the card: 'no prize', 'second prize', and 'first prize' winner variants.

These cards were inserted into blind promotional packs that also featured Pokémon and Game & Watch cards, and could be scanned with a GBA e-Reader accessory at the event for a chance to win prizes.

The winning card, valid for redemption between May 22 and 24, 2002, could be exchanged on-site for special giveaways, with rumors suggesting items as rare as a Game Boy Advance Pokémon Gold NYC Edition were among the top prizes. As a safeguard against duplicate redemptions, Nintendo representatives at E3 2002 destroyed any winning cards once a prize was claimed, making surviving examples exceptionally rare.

Reports indicate that only about 100 second prize cards and just ten first prize winning cards were ever produced.

Due to this, the mere existence of an intact, functional winner card after nearly two decades is remarkable. Rob A., a reader of Nintendo Life who discovered the card in his personal collection, shared his find and confirmed its authenticity by scanning it live on video.

He stated through Nintendo Life, "Over the weekend, I found three of these cards in my collection.

When I scanned the second one, it revealed a winning result—the only known intact winner in existence." The extraordinary interest in this piece was highlighted when bidding for the card, listed by Rob on eBay, quickly surpassed $1,000 and ultimately closed at $10,600.

The card’s provenance, coupled with its near-mythical status among Nintendo enthusiasts, drove collectors to vie for ownership in what became one of the most notable Nintendo e-Reader card auctions to date. The Game Boy Advance e-Reader, a short-lived but innovative accessory launched in the early 2000s, offered new gameplay experiences by scanning specially encoded cards.

Most promotional e-Reader cards saw limited release, but the E3 2002 Kirby promo stands out as one of the rarest, with very few ever circulating outside the event itself. The sale of this Kirby e-Reader card not only cements its place among the rarest Nintendo collectibles, but also highlights the enduring appeal of Nintendo's experimental hardware and unique promotional efforts.

For collectors and Nintendo historians alike, the story of this card is a testament to how fleeting moments in gaming history can become eternal treasures.

Kirby Nintendo Game Boy Game Boy Advance eBay e-Reader E3 2002 E3 Rare