Have you ever wondered just how many Pikachu Illustrator cards are still out there in the world, hiding in some forgotten drawer or attic? This ultra-rare card from the 1998 Pokemon Illustrator contest in Japan is the holy grail for collectors, with only a tiny handful known to exist.[2][4] Experts believe between 13 and 100 copies were ever printed as prizes for the top winners, but most agree the real number is much closer to 39 or fewer that were actually distributed.[2]
What makes this card so special is its backstory. Back in 1998, Pokemon held an art contest where kids drew their favorite Pokemon, and the best entries won these custom Illustrator cards featuring their artwork. Pikachu took the top spot, but only the very best artists got one. Over the years, only about a dozen have surfaced at auctions or grading services like PSA. Logan Paul made headlines in 2022 by dropping over $5 million on a pristine PSA 10 version, proving how crazy valuable they are.[2][3][4]
The big question is how many could still be lost forever. With so few popping up in public sales or grading records, it’s likely several sit undiscovered. Some might be tucked away in old albums from contest winners who never knew what they had. Others could have been thrown out, damaged beyond recognition, or even destroyed in house fires or moves. Since no official list tracks every winner, that leaves room for more to turn up someday, sending prices skyrocketing again.[2]
For comparison, other rare Pikachus like the 2024 Illustration Contest promo #214 are way more common, with sales happening weekly around $15 to $20 for near mint copies.[1] But the original Pikachu Illustrator? That’s a different league. If you’re hunting prices on PokemonPricing.com, keep an eye out for any whispers of new finds, because one lost card resurfacing could shake up the market overnight.[2][4]
