The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest Pokemon cards ever made, with only 39 known to exist in total. Out of those, just 12 to 15 have been professionally graded by services like PSA, leaving a small number of ungraded copies that could still appear on the market someday.[2][4]
This card comes from a 1998 Japanese illustration contest run by CoroCoro magazine. Kids entered drawings, and the top 39 winners got these special promo cards as prizes. They were never sold in packs or stores, which makes them super scarce. Most winners were young fans who might not have realized what they had back then.[2]
Experts believe all 39 cards are accounted for in collector circles, but a few ungraded ones could surface. These might be tucked away in old collections, attics, or passed down through families. For example, high-profile sales like Logan Paul’s $5 million PSA 10 copy in 2022 show how these cards pop up when owners decide to sell.[2][3][4]
Graded versions fetch huge prices because condition matters a lot. A PSA 10 is flawless and ultra-rare, while lower grades like PSA 9 still sell for millions, as seen in a $4 million auction.[5] Ungraded cards that get submitted for grading could shake up the market if they score high.
No one expects a flood of new Pikachu Illustrators. The total print run was tiny, and decades have passed since they were given out. Still, the Pokemon collecting world stays excited about any whispers of lost copies turning up at auctions or from private sellers.[1][2]
Recent promo Pikachu cards, like the 2024 Illustration Contest #214, trade for much less, around $15 to $140 depending on grade and condition. They remind fans of the original’s legacy but do not match its rarity.[1]
