The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the most sought-after collectible cards in the world. It is considered to be the “Holy Grail” of the Pokemon trading card game and is extremely rare and valuable. The Pikachu Illustrator card was originally awarded as a prize to the winners of the CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest in January 1998, and only 39 were ever made.
Since then, the cards have become a highly sought-after item among collectors, and the few that are available on the market command a high price. So, how much is a Pikachu Illustrator card worth?
A quick sneak peek at the origins of the Illustrator Pickachu card
Contest rules were announced in the CoroCoro Comic, a monthly Japanese Manga magazine, in November 1998, a full year after the initial release of Pokemon trading cards. In a contest titled “Pokemon Card Game Illust Artist Contest,” readers were asked to create their own Pokemon card and submit it to the publication for possible publication.
There were three winners announced in the January 1998 issue of the CoroCoro Comic; each received 20 custom Pokemon cards and a copy of the Illustrator Pikachu card. Twenty additional participants were selected to receive an “Excellence Award,” earning each of them a print of the Illustrator Pikachu card.
An additional competition was held by Manga magazine in May of 1998; this time it was for an illustration contest commemorating the character Mewtwo and his counterattack. Another CoroCoro Comics contest, “Pikachu’s Summer Vacation Commemoration Illust Artist Contest,” was held in June 1998.
Readers were asked to create their own Pokemon cards and attacks for two separate contests. There were sixteen recipients of awards for excellence and best, and each of them received an Illustrator Pikachu trading card as a token of their accomplishment.
There are only 39 known copies of the Illustrator Pikachu card, making it the rarest Pokemon card ever produced. In 2020, Yuichi Konno, among the original authors of the Pokemon trading card game, sold two more Illustrator Pikachus at auction. No one knows for sure how many Illustrator Pikachu cards exist.
How much are Pikachu Illustrator cards
Pikachu Illustrator cards are definitely a hot topic right now!
If you’re a fan of the adorable Pokemon character, you’ll definitely want to check these out. The cards are perfect for any Pokemon fan – young or old. They come in a variety of designs, and they make a great gift for anyone who loves Pikachu.
Plus, they’re perfect for use in your own artwork – whether you’re a Pokemon fan or not. So if you’re looking for some unique and fun illustrations to use in your designs, Pikachu Illustrator cards are a perfect choice!
Pikachu Illustrator cards are very valuable and can sell for a high price. Some examples of prices for Pikachu Illustrator cards range from $10-$25. They’re affordable and great gifts for Pokemon lovers out there!
Logan Paul sets a Guinness World Record for buying the most expensive Pokemon illustrator card
According to Guinness World Records, social media star and boxer Logan Paul paid $5.275 million for a Pikachu Illustrator card graded 10 by Professional Sports Authenticator in August 2022.
“I love Pokémon and the fact that it’s been validated with Guinness World Records – this is crazy. Tonight’s a wild night. This does not feel real!” – Logan Paul
Having received a PSA grade of 10 indicates that the card is in mint condition. According to Guinness, only one PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator card exists in the entire world.
.@LoganPaul wearing the most expensive @Pokemon card in the world right now at #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/ZnCTZD8ln9
— WWE (@WWE) April 3, 2022
Top 7 expensive Pokemon cards (aside from Pikachu Illustrator card)
Pokemon cards are a popular collectible, and they’re not cheap. In fact, some of the most expensive cards in the world are Pokemon cards. According to Dicebreaker, the following are some of the most valuable and scarce Pokémon cards ever produced:
1. Shadowless Holographic Charizard, Issue No. 4 (First Printing, 1999)
After setting a number of auction records, this card finally sold for $420,000 in March 2022. Dicebreaker reports that only 121 of these cards have been graded a perfect 10 by the Professional Card Grading Service.
2. Galaxy Star Hologram #3 Pokémon Blastoise Commissioned Presentation
Auctioned off in January of 2021 for $350,000, this card was the most expensive ever sold. Wizards of the Coast, the company that wanted the contract for the English-language release of the card game, made this one-of-a-kind item in 1998 to use in a sales pitch to Japanese Nintendo executives.
3. GX Promotional Card with Black Star Ishihara’s Signature
Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of The Pokémon Company, turned 60 in 2017, and in honor of the occasion, a custom birthday card featuring Ishihara was distributed among Pokémon employees. In April of 2021, someone paid $247,230 for a copy of the card that had been signed by Ishihara.
4. A Kangaskhan-Holo Family Event Trophy Card for the 11th Annual Competition
In October of the year 2020, this rare card went for $151,100. You’ll have a hard time finding this card, as only three have been sold in the last twenty years. The card is extremely rare because it was only given out in 1998 at a parent-and-child tournament in Japan.
5. Holo Lugia, Number Six from the first edition of Pokémon: Neo Genesis (2000).
As of May 2021, this card had fetched $143,100. Only three of these cards featuring the legendary Pokémon featured on the Pokémon SoulSilver game’s cover are graded a perfect 10 by the Professional Card Grading Service.
6. Trainer, Take Two! 2006 Pokémon World Championships Promotional No. 7.
In the month of February 2021, this card went for $110,100. This card served as a trophy at the 2006 Pokémon World Championships. Three copies are thought to still exist today.
7. 1999’s Top-Ranked Trainer in the Super Secret Battle.
This rare card went for $90,000 in July 2020; it was given to the winners of a 1999 elite tournament at a top-secret location.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of the adorable Pokemon character, you’ll definitely want to check these out. The cards are perfect for any Pokemon fan – young or old. They come in a variety of designs, and they make a great gift for anyone who loves Pikachu.
Pikachu Illustrator cards are very valuable and can sell for a high price. Some examples of prices for Pikachu Illustrator cards range from $10-$25. They’re affordable and great gifts for Pokemon lovers out there!
