Meet Fernando Silva

Bayonne, NJ

When I was 6 or 7, my dad took us to Best Buy to get a Game Boy Color for my brother and me. We each chose a game. I picked a Ray-Man game, and my younger brother picked Pokémon Blue. We knew nothing about it. That same day, I picked up his Blue version and was immediately hooked. I then got into the TCG, the cartoon, action figures, anything Pokémon I was loving. I ended up playing through Gen 3 before I grew out of it. But now I get to relive it all with my kids.

Collection photo submitted by Fernando Silva

Collection profile

Mostly collect singles that I think look really nice. I mostly look at the Gen 1 through Gen 3 Pokémon because that is what I am most familiar with. But I have some great ones!

Favorite

My self graded TAG 10 Van Gogh Pikachu or the 151 Charizard my wife pulled for me

Current chase

I really want to get my hands on that gold metal Charizard from the Charizard UPC

Five questions

Which piece of collecting gear has earned your trust?

Vault X Binders

Which card artwork would you hang on your wall as a print?

The SIR Zapdos from 151

What are you chasing right now?

The Viridian Forest Pika from Ascended. But it's so expensive, so not really chasing it, just hoping for it, but really excited for the new 30th-anniversary celebration set.

Which card would you never sell, and why?

My 151 SIR Charizard cuz its what got me back into it all back in 2022 and my wife and I were so excited when we pulled it.

Which set surprised you most, for better or worse?

Ascended. For better and worse. It's just insane how good that set is. I really thought it would decline in price, but things are just so insanely expensive, but for good reason. It's the best modern set we've had in a very long time IMO.