The 1999 Pokémon Jungle Lickitung PSA 9 First Edition card (#38/64) is currently priced between $18 and $21 USD as of April 2026. This pricing reflects the card’s position as a mid-tier collectible within the early Pokémon trading card market—valuable enough to command respectable secondary market attention, but not rare or famous enough to justify higher-end prices. For example, GameStop lists the card at $18.99 with a market value estimate around $20.85, while recent auction sales on PSAcard.com show completed transactions in the $17.50 to $19.50 range, giving collectors a clear picture of realistic acquisition costs.
The price variation reflects typical market behavior for PSA 9 graded first edition copies. This grade sits comfortably in the “near mint” category without being flawless, making it accessible to serious collectors while still offering legitimate condition premium over raw, ungraded versions of the same card. The $18–$21 range has remained relatively stable throughout early 2026, suggesting that demand and supply for this specific card are in reasonable equilibrium, unlike some Pokémon cards experiencing rapid appreciation.
Table of Contents
- Why Is This Lickitung Card Worth $18–$21?
- The Impact of Grading and PSA Condition Tiers
- Where to Find and Verify Lickitung Pricing
- Buying vs. Selling: Where You Acquire or Liquidate This Card
- Market Volatility and Long-Term Risks
- How This Lickitung Compares to Other Jungle Cards
- The Outlook for Vintage Jungle Set Cards Into Mid-2026
- Conclusion
Why Is This Lickitung Card Worth $18–$21?
The 1999 Jungle set Lickitung occupies an interesting middle ground in Pokémon card collecting. It’s neither the flagship card of its set nor a true chase rare, yet it carries first edition status, which significantly boosts its value relative to unlimited print runs. First edition cards from the Jungle set are less common than Base Set first editions, but more abundant than some of the set’s holographic rares, creating a pricing sweet spot where supply is moderate and demand is consistent but not speculative.
PSA 9 grading adds meaningful value—this grade indicates a card that has been professionally verified, photographed, and encased, removing uncertainty about condition. For a 25-year-old card, achieving and maintaining PSA 9 condition is genuinely difficult. Many first edition Jungle Lickitungs have suffered from edge wear, corner soft spots, or light creasing over decades of storage, making a verified 9 tangibly scarcer than a raw copy claiming the same condition. The grading service itself commands a premium that justifies the $18–$21 price; a raw first edition Lickitung in similar condition might sell for $6–$10, illustrating how dramatically the PSA label affects market value.
The Impact of Grading and PSA Condition Tiers
Grading fundamentally changes how this card trades and what collectors will pay. A PSA 9 represents near-mint condition with only light imperfections—typically minor printing inconsistencies or barely perceptible wear. The jump from PSA 8 to PSA 9 can represent a 30–50% price increase for this card, while PSA 10 copies command $40–$60 or more, showing how sensitive Lickitung pricing is to that single grade point. This means that a collector acquiring a PSA 9 at $19 is getting significantly better condition than settling for a PSA 8 at $12–$14, though they’re also paying the market’s premium for confirmed authenticity and professional preservation.
One limitation worth understanding: PSA grading standards have shifted slightly over the decades, and older slabs (cards graded before 2020) may reflect different criteria than recent 9s. If you’re comparing a 2005-era PSA 9 Lickitung to a 2024-era PSA 9, there’s no guarantee they’re identically conditioned—one might look noticeably better or worse in hand. This inconsistency occasionally surprises collectors who expect uniformity. Additionally, newer grades from PSA carry a premium over older slabs even if the card itself is identical, because the encapsulation is fresher and the label more current. A re-grade or modern reholder could change perceived value, though it also adds cost.
Where to Find and Verify Lickitung Pricing
Multiple platforms maintain active pricing data for the PSA 9 first edition Jungle Lickitung. The price guide and Sports Card Investor both track completed sales and active listings, allowing collectors to see historical price trends spanning years. GameStop carries graded cards and offers pricing transparency, while eBay maintains a constant flow of auction activity where you can observe what buyers are actually willing to pay in real time. Checking at least two sources before purchasing is prudent—what GameStop lists at $18.99 might be underpriced or overpriced relative to what an eBay auction actually closes at.
PSAcard.com’s auction price database is particularly valuable because it shows what the card has actually sold for, not just what sellers are asking. Over the past six months of April 2026, the $17.50–$19.50 range reflects genuine market transactions, not optimistic pricing. This distinction matters because eBay listings sometimes sit unsold for weeks at inflated prices, artificially skewing perception. Real-time checking is important because card prices fluctuate based on seasonal demand, broader market sentiment about vintage Pokémon, and sometimes simply the luck of which listings are currently active. A card that sold for $18 three days ago might list for $22 tomorrow if fewer copies are in stock.
Buying vs. Selling: Where You Acquire or Liquidate This Card
If you’re buying a PSA 9 first edition Jungle Lickitung to add to your collection, expect to pay $18–$21 at reputable retailers, with occasional finds below that range if you catch sales or less-competitive eBay auctions. GameStop, eBay, and specialty card retailers like TCGPlayer maintain steady inventory. If you’re selling one you own, realistic expectations depend on your venue. Selling to a dealer or card shop will net you $12–$16, as retailers need margin. Selling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace might yield $17–$19 if you’re patient and your photo is good.
The key tradeoff: selling to a dealer is fast and certain, but you leave money on the table; selling retail yourself takes time and effort but captures more value. An important caveat: condition can shift between graded slabs of nominally identical cards. If you’re buying a PSA 9 sight unseen, you’re trusting the grade. If it arrives and looks noticeably worse than comparable comps, you may be locked into keeping a card you feel misgraded, with no easy recourse if it’s from an older PSA holder. This is why seasoned collectors sometimes prefer to inspect cards in person when possible, or buy from sellers with strong return policies.
Market Volatility and Long-Term Risks
The $18–$21 price for PSA 9 Lickitung has held steady through early 2026, but this stability masks underlying market dynamics. Broader Pokémon card enthusiasm is cyclical—when media attention spikes (a new movie, a popular content creator, a viral moment), vintage card prices can surge 20–30% in weeks. Conversely, when enthusiasm wanes, prices can contract. A collector who bought at $21 last month might see their card sell for $16 three months later if overall vintage Pokémon interest dips. Unlike stocks or real estate, there are no dividends or utility to cushion downturns; you’re betting purely on collectible appreciation.
Grading standards and reholder trends add another layer of risk. If PSA’s reputation suffers due to counterfeit slabs or standard drift, the premium attached to older PSA labels could compress, hurting the resale value of your $19 card. Conversely, if a competing service (CGC, Beckett) becomes dominant, PSA slabs might lose perceived prestige. Additionally, the Pokémon card market has historically been vulnerable to inventory floods—when large collections surface for sale, local supply surges and prices dip temporarily. None of these risks is imminent or inevitable, but they’re worth acknowledging if you’re considering this card as an investment rather than pure collecting fun.
How This Lickitung Compares to Other Jungle Cards
The first edition Jungle Lickitung sits comfortably in the middle of that set’s pricing hierarchy. Jungle holographic rares like Electrode or Vileplume command $30–$50 in PSA 9, while non-holo uncommons like Weepinbell or Jolteon fetch $8–$12. Lickitung, a non-holographic card, represents excellent value because it’s visible and recognizable (Lickitung has remained a cultural fixture) while being affordable compared to holos.
If you’re building a Jungle set, buying this card at $19 instead of hunting raw copies means you’re investing in confirmed condition, which saves you from chasing ever-tighter specifications. Comparing across time: the same card in PSA 6 (fine condition) sells for $7–$9, while PSA 10 copies rarely surface and command $50+. This shows that the PSA 9 tier is almost a “sweet spot” for Lickitung—you’re not overpaying the exponential premium for gem mint, but you’re also not settling for a card with visible wear.
The Outlook for Vintage Jungle Set Cards Into Mid-2026
The Jungle set, released in 1999, occupies an interesting position as Pokémon card collecting matures. It’s vintage enough to carry legitimate historical value and rarity credentials, yet not as mythologically elevated as Base Set first editions. Prices for first edition Jungle cards have been gradually appreciating in the 5–10% annual range over the past several years, suggesting moderate collector interest and steady demand. The Lickitung, specifically, benefits from being a recognizable Pokémon and having accessible pricing that doesn’t intimidate new collectors.
Looking into mid-2026 and beyond, expect the $18–$21 range for PSA 9 first editions to remain the baseline, with seasonal fluctuations. If vintage Pokémon maintains cultural momentum through 2026 (likely given continued media releases), prices could inch toward the $22–$25 range by year-end. However, this is gradual appreciation tied to broader nostalgia cycles, not explosive growth. For collectors, the takeaway is that this card is reasonably priced and unlikely to tank suddenly, but also unlikely to be a dramatic wealth builder.
Conclusion
The April 2026 market price for a PSA 9 first edition 1999 Pokémon Jungle Lickitung (#38/64) sits solidly in the $18–$21 range, with most active listings and recent sales clustering around $18–$19. This price reflects fair value for a vintage, graded, non-holographic card with genuine first edition status and near-mint condition. Whether you’re acquiring one for a Jungle set collection or considering it as part of a vintage Pokémon portfolio, the price is accessible without being dismissive of the card’s age and rarity.
Your next step is to check current listings on the price guide, GameStop, or PSAcard.com auction data to see the latest prices and available inventory. If you’re buying, aim for the $18–$19 floor range and inspect seller ratings carefully. If you’re selling, understand that dealer buyback will be lower, but retail channels will take time—decide which tradeoff works for your situation. Either way, at this price point, the Lickitung represents solid value in the broader Pokémon vintage market.
