How Many Pikachu Illustrator Cards Exist According to the Pokémon Company?
The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest Pokémon cards ever made. It comes from a special promo in Japan back in 1998. The card went only to winners of an illustration contest run by CoroCoro Comics. No packs ever had it, so supply stayed tiny.[1][5]
People in the collecting world often say about 39 copies exist in total. That number comes from the count of contest winners over 1997 and 1998. Sources like Sports Illustrated and Vaulted Collection back this up, calling it fewer than 40.[1][5]
The Pokémon Company has not put out an official number on its own. They do not track or list exact print runs for these old promo prizes. So the 39 figure is what experts and sellers use based on contest records. No fresh word from the company changes that as of late 2025.[1][5]
One card stands out as the gem: a PSA 10 grade version owned by Logan Paul. It is the only one at that perfect score. He bought it for over 5 million dollars in 2022 and plans to auction it soon.[3][4]
Other sales show the heat. A PSA 8.5 sold for 610,000 dollars recently on Goldin. That is double what a similar one fetched just a year before.[1]
Some sites mention higher totals like 101 copies, but that seems off from main sources. Most stick to under 40 as the real count.[2]
Grading reports from PSA help track known copies. Pop reports show low numbers across grades, proving true scarcity. High grades especially stay rare.[1][3]
For collectors chasing prices, check pop reports and recent auctions. Values climb fast with low supply and big demand. Pikachu Illustrator keeps its spot as the top grail card.
