Have you ever wondered about those super rare Pikachu Illustrator cards with off-center printing? These are special versions of the famous Pikachu Illustrator, one of the rarest Pokemon cards out there. Only 39 of the original Pikachu Illustrator cards were ever made back in 1998 as prizes for a Japanese illustration contest. Most people chase the perfectly centered ones graded high by PSA, like the single PSA 10 owned by Logan Paul that sold for millions.[3]
Off-center printing means the image or text on the card sits crooked, not lined up right in the middle. This happens during manufacturing and can lower a card’s grade, but for something this rare, it still makes it valuable. The good news? No one knows the exact number of Pikachu Illustrators with off-center printing. Experts and collectors track all 39 cards closely because they pop up so rarely at shows or auctions.[2]
What we do know is that not every one of the 39 is perfect. Some have minor printing errors like being slightly off-center, which shows up when graders check them. For example, a PSA 9 version of the card was shown at the Singapore Card Show, where the owner turned down over a million dollars because he thinks prices will keep climbing.[2] These off-center ones often get grades like PSA 8 or 9, depending on how bad the misalignment is and other factors like edges and corners.
Why does this matter for prices? Off-center cards sell for less than gem mint ones, but they are still worth a fortune. A standard Pikachu Illustrator in lower grades has sold for tens or hundreds of thousands, while perfect ones hit millions. If you spot one with off-center printing in a collection or sale, check the grade and recent comps. Sites track sales of similar promos, like the newer Pikachu 214 from the 2024 contest, which go for $10 to $140 in near mint or graded condition.[1]
Collectors love hunting these quirks because they add story to the card. Keep an eye on grading reports for the 39 known Illustrators, as new details sometimes surface from private owners. If you own one or see a listing claiming off-center, get it authenticated fast, since fakes try to mimic these errors too. Prices stay hot as Pokemon hits big anniversaries, so these misprints could surprise everyone with their value.
