So after all those years, are my Callcards valuable?...
So after all those years, are my Callcards valuable?...
A question I have been asked quite a bit lately is this. Unfortunately in the majority of cases I get asked, the answer is no. Telecom Eireann (and Eircom) released different kinds of cards throughout the years, with a mix of trial, definitive, private and general release cards. In this short guide I am going to provide very broad but useful information and tables you can use to find out if the cards you have are valuable or not.
When a Limited Edition is not limited at all!
Many people have the Garth Brooks, Diana Ross,Tina Turner, Aladdin and Blink (Wonder what happened to them?) Callcards in their collection. Printed quite prominently on the front of each of these cards is “Limited Edition”. Unfortunately these particular cards are far from being a “limited edition”, but rather the term limited edition was used to signify Telecom Eireann’s partnership with EMI music to produce “band” cards, and market them as a collector’s item for the fans.
All the cards mentioned above in mint condition should be worth a few euro, but used would not be worth much if anything. Please refer to the Card List to see how many of the particular card was made.
Of course just to confuse us all Telecom Eireann did bring out a card with Limited Edition stated which was in fact limited! The 1050 Cable & Wireless card only had 10, 000 made, and is considerably rarer than the above.
Sure that card looks lovely, marks a special event, has a nice design, it must be valuable?
Ironically enough it would be the plainer, boring Callcards that tend to be the more valuable. All of the Disney Callcards (with the exception of 1261 Tarzan Special) are general releases with massive amounts produced. Phonecards that were made to commemorate Clinton’s historic visit, The Foxford Woolen Mills, the 1994 World Cup or Gay Byrnes last Late Late Show cards are all very common.
The earlier the Callcard the more valuable they are…
Older Callcards, particularly the earlier trial Callcards and some very early cards (the Rock of Cashel, All-Ireland Hurling and Football, the Shamrock, Limerick Treaty) are rare and fetch quite a bit these days, particularly in good condition. Depending on the card of course, some trial cards would fetch into the hundreds (the IMI cards).
An interesting point to make here is that not all Callcards came wrapped. Not one of the trial cards was issued in a plastic wrapper and many of the early cards (the Rock of Cashel, All-Ireland Hurling and Football, the Shamrock, Limerick Treaty) never came wrapped.
So how does one find out if the card is mint? For the Dublin or Limerick trials, that would be impossible, however a card reader may be used to check unwrapped callcards for units. These readers are quite difficult to come by.
Some examples of valuable early cards (and how they sold recently)
Callcard | Price Range | Mint/Used |
---|---|---|
Cork FITCE | €60-90 | MINT/Used |
Irish Management Institute (IMI) Ireland's Europe 20 units | €180-250 | MINT/Used |
Irish Management Institute (IMI) Ireland's Europe 50 units | €350-500 | MINT/Used |
Irish Management Institute (IMI) New Ways for the Nineties | €20-25 | MINT |
Black Back Cottage (Train Trial) | €35-55 | MINT/Used |
Royal Hospital Kilmainham | €40-60 | MINT |
Rock of Cashel | €15-28 | MINT |
All Ireland Football/Hurling | €15-30 | MINT |
Shamrock (La Le Padraig) | €10-20 | MINT |
The Limerick Treaty | €10-20 | MINT |
Cards I am commonly asked about regarding value
Callcard | Price Range | Mint/Used |
---|---|---|
Garth Brooks | €1-3 | MINT |
Gay Byrne (Late Late Show) | €1-3 | MINT |
Boyzone | €1-2 | MINT |
Diana Ross | €1-3 | MINT |
Cottage (certain variations more valuable than others) | €1-5 | MINT |
Tina Turner | €1-3 | MINT |
Niamh from Tir Na Nog | €1-2 | MINT |
Irish Horse Racing (certain variations more valuable than others) | €1-5 | MINT |
Blink (EMI Music) | €1-2 | MINT |
Aladdin | €1-2 | MINT |
This list will be updated as often as people contact me. Why don't you contact me for a collection appraisal?
For other Callcards, a more general value range can be viewed in the tables below. Feel free to use the Card List to cross check the table with your collection.
General Trial card releases table (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Unit)
Unit |
Price Range |
5 |
€7-€50 |
10 |
€3-€12 |
20 |
€5-€15 |
50 |
€10-€24 |
100 |
€20-€50 |
Tip!: Mint Callcards
Mint Callcards (i.e: ones that are still in their plastic wrapper) will fetch more than a used card in the majority of cases. Remember that not all Callcards came wrapped, and a card reader would be necessary to show if a card is mint with units or not. There are some very rare exceptions to this rule.
General Release Cards (100, 000-1, 000,000)
Unit |
Used Price Range |
Mint Price Range |
5 |
€1-€4 |
€2-€6 |
10 |
- |
€1.50-€5 |
20 |
- |
€2.50-€7 |
50 |
€.50-€3 |
€7.50-€11 |
100 |
€.50-€3 |
€17-€24 |
Special Release Cards (10, 000-99, 000)
Unit |
Used Price Range |
Mint Price Range |
5 |
€1-€15 |
€4-€20 |
10 |
€1-€12 |
€2-€16 |
20 |
€1-€12 |
€2.50-€7 |
50 |
€1-€11 |
€8.50-€16 |
100 |
€1.50-€15 |
€18-€40 |
Please note that prices listed here are guidelines. The callcard market is very changeable, and values of cards to go up and down.
You can also refer to the Card List to see how many of a particular callcard were made. If you want to contact me for help please click here or send an email to nick@irishcallcards.net. I will do my best to value your collection.
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Leave a comment...
Reply - I found 3 old call cards in my old ... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 4 months ago
Hi John, Nice cards there but nothing valuable unfortunately. Thanks for the comment! Nick
Laura Posted - 6 months ago
Hi, I have World Cup 2002, €15 value call card. It’s not in plastic cover and I would think was used. Thank you, Laura.
Reply - Hi, I have World Cup 2002, €15 val... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 5 months ago
Hi Laura, Value wise that card could fetch a few euro used alright. In good condition 5-6€ possibly. Not all that common. Also some football memorabilia enthusiasts might be interested in it, given the unique situation Ireland faced in that particular world Cup. Nick
Elaine Posted - 9 months ago
I have a collection of call cards. Some I feel are very common cards
Some disney ones (hercules, Milan, pocahontas, hunchback of note dame)
Some Christmas ones
Lots of food ones ( rice krispies squares, time out, kitkat, twirl, dairy milk, Jacobs biscuit, Jacobs Crackers, nescafe, macdonalds, pot mash, zig and zag yoplait, tea Maria, Hudson blue, Erin hot cup)
Elastoplast, call to say you care Teddy, 175 children's hospital, The rotunda hospital, Irish heart foundation and other products which I feel are very common.
50th anniversary of an FCA 50 units card, Irish air corps 1922-1997, Irish naval service 1949-1996, Irish emigrants leaving home priests blessing
Irish basket ball, European hockey ucd, FAI USA 1994,
James bond, garth Brooks limited edition 20 units, boyszone, les miserable, phantom of the opera, Late late show gay byrne
telecaster 50, Galway festival , celebrating president Clinton's visit to Ireland, xtra vision, SDS , the examiner, European Parliament elections
Lots more very common ones and a foreign 100 unit butterfly one
Reply - I have a collection of call cards. ... (Jump to comment)
John mahon Posted - 3 months ago
A time of hope Ceasefire 1994 1st anniversary phone card not great condition Any use ?
Eoin McInerney Posted - 1 year ago
Hi just wondering once upon a time you could redeem mint Irish cards for their unit values, is that still something that's done?
Reply - Hi just wondering once upon a time ... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 1 year ago
Hi Eoin, I know one of the premium number phone providers used to offer such a facility. You could ring a premium number via card phone to exchange units for cash. I'm not to sure about the details or if this is still going unfortunately. Also harder to find cardphones now outside of city centres these days. Nick
Wayne Posted - 1 year ago
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have a callcards of Gay Byrne (used).
Is that any worth value?
Best Regards
Wayne
Reply - Dear Sir/Madam, I have a callcards... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 1 year ago
Hi Wayne, Afraid not unfortunately. Very common Callcard Nick
Noreen Posted - 1 year ago
Hi , Can you tell me if a Aoife snd the children of Lir 20units or the Niamh from Tir na nOg 10 units are worth anything ? Both used . Thanks
Reply - Hi , Can you tell me if a Aoife snd... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 1 year ago
Hi Noreen, Afraid not, two of the most common cards ever produced unfortunately, Best regards, Nick
Shane Posted - 2 years ago
I have a collection of several hundred irish and about 100 foreign, loads still in wrappers. Also, a Lim Ed. Cambridge Telephones Michael Collins( 1 of 1500), ceasefire( 1500), plus several other lim ends of 700/ 1000. How could I get them appraised/ sell them?
Reply - I have a collection of several hund... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 2 years ago
Hi Shane, Drop me an email nick@irishcallcards.net with some photos of your Callcard collection and I would be happy to assist, Nick
Reply - Hi Shane, Drop me an email nick@iri... (Jump to comment)
Shane Posted - 2 years ago
Thanks Nick, I sent on some photos.
Reply - Thanks Nick, I sent on some photos.... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 2 years ago
Thanks Shane, I will review them and get back to you shortly! Nick
niamh allen Posted - 2 years ago
hi there
I have an Irish Horse Racing Call Card 10 Units
Call to say you care ( with a cute teddy on it ) 5 units
a thatch cottage by the sea 20 units
Are these worth anything
Thanks
Reply - hi there I have an Irish Horse Rac... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 2 years ago
Hi Niamh, These are all extremely common Callcards unfortunately. Best regards, Nick
0877460078 Posted - 2 years ago
I have a Republic of Ireland 1994 World Cup 10 units call card. Is it worth anything
Reply - I have a Republic of Ireland 199... (Jump to comment)
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 3 years ago
Quoting John Jennings
Hi Nick Most of my cards are still in plastic wrapper i live in Ennis co clare is there anyway i could see you and you could have a look at them.are could i take pictures and send them to you
Cheers John.
Hi John,
You can email me photos of your collection: nick@irishcallcards.net and I can certainly advise if you have any particularly valuable callcards in it!
Best regards
Nick
John Jennings Posted - 3 years ago
Hi Nick Most of my cards are still in plastic wrapper i live in Ennis co clare is there anyway i could see you and you could have a look at them.are could i take pictures and send them to you
Cheers John.
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 5 years ago
Quoting Niamh
I have a collection of cards also, used and new, some bought from the collector's club. I have no idea of where to go to sell them or find out their worth. Any chance i can send pictures of them to someone to see their value?
Hi Niamh,
You can email photos to me nick@irishcallcards.net
Nick
Niamh Posted - 5 years ago
I have a collection of cards also, used and new, some bought from the collector's club. I have no idea of where to go to sell them or find out their worth. Any chance i can send pictures of them to someone to see their value?
Nick Rankin (Administrator) Posted - 5 years ago
Quoting Brenda MurrayFlynn
Morning,
I have the National Management Conference for leaders of irish business, New ways for the Nineties call card 50 units never used not in plastic is it worth anything? Its the one on the top left corner of above earlier call cards.
Hi Brenda,
It's a very nice card, although not that rare in comparison to the IMI "Irelands Europe" 50 unit card.
The nineties card mint can fetch around €30+ finding the right buyer.
Best regards,
Nick
Brenda MurrayFlynn Posted - 5 years ago
Morning,
I have the National Management Conference for leaders of irish business, New ways for the Nineties call card 50 units never used not in plastic is it worth anything? Its the one on the top left corner of above earlier call cards.
John Morgan Posted - 4 months ago
I found 3 old call cards in my old college boxes. All opened and used. 1) Star Trek First Contact. Looks to be from 1996. Says UCI Cinema Blanchardstown on the back. 2) A Telecom Eireann seasons greetings card 1996 3) A HMV branded card and it must be from 1996 also.
In good condition.
Would they be worth anything?