Goldin Auctions, an auction marketplace known well for its collectibles auctions, is currently conducting a major auction event. Running until December 20th, Goldin is auctioning off many sought-after pieces of collectible memorabilia form the Pokémon Trading Card Game. This includes a Mint 9 graded copy of Illustrator Pikachu (as graded by PSA). Not only this, but there are a ton of other highly coveted PTCG items up on the block this month.
According to its description on PSA’s website, this copy of Illustrator Pikachu is exceedingly rare, boasting a population of only 11 graded cards of a grade of Mint 9, with only one card graded any higher! Furthermore, according to the auction page on Goldin:
[The] January [1998] issue of CoroCoro Comic announced the three winners [of the “Pokémon Card Game Illust Artist Contest,” in which fans would submit illustrations for use in the TCG], who each received 20 Pokémon cards featuring their own illustrations along with one copy of the Illustrator Pikachu card. An additional 20 contestants were presented the “Excellence Award,” which secured them a copy of the now-coveted Illustrator card. This competition format was done again two more times between May and June 1998. Varying awards were given out, and creator Yuichi Konno added two more at auction. The total number of Illustrator Pikachu cards now officially stands at 41, leading it to be the rarest Pokémon card in existence. It’s still unclear if there are more out there, but the likelihood steadily decreases as the years go by.
The presented example has a pedigree that is undeniable. With the lowest ungraded sales starting at $100,000, the most widely known example was an evaluated PSA 10 acquired by YouTube celebrity Logan Paul. This transaction was valued at just more than $5 million, making headlines even in the world of professional wrestling due to its inclusion in Paul’s ring attire at WrestleMania 38.
Graded MINT by PSA (83324824). Among the just 35 copies of this piece recorded in PSA’s census reporting, this is one of 10 [sic.] examples graded at its elite tier, with just one graded higher. Presented is a 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Holofoil Illustrator Pikachu in sublime condition. The obverse surface is clean and the colors crisp and vibrant with a lustrous foil background. An example of the rarest printed Pokémon card in existence, this offered collectible would be the crown jewel in your collection if you just Gotta Catch ’em All!
With such a rare Pokémon card up for auction, current auction prices are pretty low right now, at a measly $280,000 and ripe for the picking. PSA estimates this card’s value at $840,000, making the price point of $280k for this rarity a steal, if you can believe it. However, in the time it took to write this article, it jumped by $20,000 – we started writing this with the card at $260k! If you wish to place a bid on this wonderfully whimsical Pokémon TCG card, you have until December 20th to do so! You can find the auction page here. Good luck!
