There is no documented or confirmed number of Pikachu Illustrator cards with ink smudging, as this specific printing error has not been reported or verified in known Pokemon card collecting resources.[1]
The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest Pokemon cards ever made. Only 39 copies exist in total, created in 1998 as a prize for a Japanese art contest. These cards never hit regular stores and are graded mostly by PSA, with just a few in existence today. Their value often tops millions at auction due to extreme scarcity.
Ink smudging shows up as smeared or dragged ink from printing presses, usually when wet ink transfers or drips. Common examples include smudged 1st Edition stamps on Squirtle cards from Base Set, where extra black ink dragged across the stamp and sometimes onto the next card in the sheet. Hitmonlee holos had gold ink stains on borders, and Team Rocket sets saw low black ink, smudged stamps on trainers, speckled black dots on rares, and yellow roller streaks on commons.[1]
Despite searches through error card lists and collector databases, nothing mentions ink smudging on Pikachu Illustrator. Promo cards like this one were printed in tiny runs under tight quality control, so major errors are rare. Minor print flaws might exist but stay ungraded or unreported, hidden in private collections.
If you own a Pikachu Illustrator, check it closely under good light for any ink issues around the text, borders, or artwork. Subtle smudges could boost value for error hunters, but fakes are common, so get it authenticated by PSA or BGS first. Track sales on sites like eBay or PWCC for similar error cards to gauge interest. Keep watching collector forums like Reddit’s r/PokemonTCG or Bulbapedia for new finds, as rarities like this pop up unexpectedly.
