How Many Pikachu Illustrator Cards Are Graded PSA 10?
The Pikachu Illustrator card stands out as one of the rarest and most valuable Pokemon cards ever made. Created in 1998 as a prize for winners of a Japanese illustration contest run by CoroCoro Comics, only about 39 copies were ever produced. These cards went exclusively to the top 20 contest winners, plus a few given to staff and others involved. None hit the open market back then, making them true collector holy grails.[1][6][7]
When it comes to PSA 10 grades, the top Gem Mint condition, the number is incredibly low. Logan Paul owns the one and only PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator, confirmed as a population of just 1. This makes it the highest graded example in existence and a record-breaker in the Pokemon world.[3]
Overall PSA population reports show very few Pikachu Illustrators have been graded at all. Experts estimate fewer than 40 total exist, with most sitting in lower grades or ungraded due to their age and handling history. High grades like PSA 10 are almost impossible because these cards endured travel to contest winners and years of storage without modern protection.[1][7]
Past sales highlight the card’s insane value. A Pikachu Illustrator in CGC Mint 9 sold for $325,000 at a major auction, while an unnumbered promo version fetched top dollar too. The PSA 10 owned by Logan Paul has been called the most valuable Pokemon card ever, with talk of massive sale prices in the millions.[1][3][6]
For collectors chasing Pikachu Illustrator prices, that single PSA 10 drives the market. Other high-grade examples, like PSA 9s, appear rarely and still command huge sums. Check PSA population reports regularly, as new submissions could pop up from long-hidden collections, but do not count on it. This card’s scarcity keeps prices sky-high and demand endless.[1][3][7]
Other Pikachu promos, like recent McDonald’s or contest versions, get PSA 10s more often, but they pale next to the original Illustrator in rarity and value. Modern ones might sell for $50 to $100 in top grade, a tiny fraction of the real deal.[2][4][5]
