Volodymyr Zelensky Decision 2020 cards in demand (updated)

Volodymyr Zelensky's chapters in the history books aren't yet written, but the record books already reflect a significant place on cardboard.

The Ukraine president doesn't appear on a lot of cardboard -- actually, right now, it's just six cards -- but they are in big demand as his historic profile is unfolding before our eyes daily as his country is being attacked by Russian forces. Demand has even led to unauthorized/fake "reprint" cards without the embedded actual flag patch inside them over on eBay. (So read listings closely and examine the photos if you're a potential buyer right now.)

Update: "I don’t like seeing counterfeits. This was the first time," said Brian Wallos, who brought the landmark Decision 2016 and Decision 2020 sets to life. "We only printed about 50 of the unnumbered Silver flags of about 55 subjects. ... The world Leader Flags are inserted about six to eight per case. We are also adding a lot more parallel colors to Decision on the coming products."

Zelensky appears on five World Leaders Flag Patch cards from the first series of the Decision 2020 set -- a standard and four rare serial-numbered parallel versions -- and then a Preview Card that was made for a teaser product before the release. The numbered cards' total is just 22 -- so they are rare between the two editions. The foil-color parallels include Green (/10), Blue (/5) and then two 1/1 cards -- Red and Ice Blue. The Preview Card is stamped and limited to only five. The standard card (silver foil) is not serial-numbered and it's the one that's generating heat on eBay.

Four real cards have sold on eBay between $350 and $799 since Feb. 27 -- all but one being standard cards. The Red 1/1 parallel card sold for $499.99 on March 1. Back in February there are two lower sales -- just $38.76 for a standard card and then a Green parallel selling for $53.99.

Current eBay auctions have strong asking prices but unfortunately right now some if not all of the eBay listings selling fake cards promise to donate funds to Ukraine relief efforts. (These unauthorized cards allege they are limited to 200 copies and, again most importantly, don't have an embedded patch in the card.) Bidding right now on two active auctions for real cards are at $214.19 and $887.99 with plenty of bidding and plenty of time to go.

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Update: Wallos offered some details about his upcoming history/political releases as well as some thoughts on the demand for this card. Since this story originally appeared on March 17, eBay sales for the card have pushed $900 with none remaining active on the auction site.

"The world Leaders overall have been extremely popular for us," Wallos said. "Before Zelensky, the hottest card was Xi Jinping of China -- check the values on those. I'm working on a World Leaders full product, so this Zelensky value kinda validates that.

"We will have two [releases] this year -- 'Influencers & Icons' which will have an eclectic mix of politicians from the 20 and 21st centuries like JFK, Castro, Churchill, etc.," he said, "and Retro World Leader Flags and Decision 2022 coming out before the mid-term elections in November."

Wallos also pondered what the Red parallel might sell for now or in the future if it ever hits the open market.

"I thought that was a lot then," he said of the nearly $500 sale. "That card would have to be $2k or more now. The Ice Blue and other colors are still out there in sealed cases sitting at Blowout."

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