Have you ever wondered about those tiny flaws that can show up on even the rarest Pokemon cards straight from the factory? We’re talking about the Pikachu Illustrator card, one of the holy grails of collecting. This promo card from 1998 is insanely scarce, with only a few dozen known to exist worldwide.[3] But what about copies that have factory imperfections, like minor printing errors, slight misprints, or centering issues that happened during production?
Factory imperfections mean small defects created during the manufacturing process, such as uneven edges, surface scratches, or off-center images. These are not fakes or damage from handling, but natural quirks from the printing run. For sealed products or cards in slabs, collectors always check for these to avoid surprises.[1]
The truth is, no one knows the exact number of Pikachu Illustrator cards with factory imperfections. Official print run data was never released by the original promoter, CoroCoro magazine, and only about 39 were ever distributed as contest prizes. Population reports from graders like PSA track slabbed copies, but they do not break out factory flaws separately. For example, high-grade PSA 10 versions are ultra-rare, with just one confirmed perfect copy out there.[3] Most known examples show some production variances, like minor wear or centering problems that graders note under magnification.[1]
Why does this matter for prices? Imperfect cards still fetch huge sums because of the card’s legend status, but flaws can drop the grade and value. A raw card with factory issues might grade lower, say PSA 8 or 9, compared to a gem mint 10. Recent chase variants of Pikachu Illustrator have spiked in price due to scarcity, outpacing older cards.[1] Always pull up population reports and recent auction sales to see how similar imperfect copies have sold.
If you’re hunting one, inspect under a jeweler’s loupe for authenticity and flaws. Third-party grading adds trust, but even graded cards can have noted factory defects in the report. Raw cards carry more risk, so verify everything yourself.[1] Keep an eye on marketplaces for any new discoveries, as the total population could shift with fresh finds.
