Pikachu Illustrator cards are far rarer than No Number Trainer cards, with only about 39 Pikachu Illustrators known to exist compared to roughly 200 to 500 No Number Trainers.[1][2][4]
Pikachu Illustrator comes from a special 1998 Pokemon illustration contest in Japan. The Pokemon Company printed just 39 of these cards as prizes for the top winners. They never hit stores or wide distribution. That tiny print run makes them one of the scarcest Pokemon cards ever. Famous collector Logan Paul bought a top-grade PSA 10 version for over 5 million dollars in 2022, showing their huge value.[2][3][4]
No Number Trainer cards, often called No Number Trainers, appeared in early Japanese Pokemon sets around 1996 to 1998. These are error cards missing the set number on the bottom. Printer mistakes led to hundreds being made, with estimates between 200 and 500 total copies across different types. They pop up more often in sales and grading than Pikachu Illustrators.[1][2]
Side by side, Pikachu Illustrators win on rarity hands down. If all 39 Illustrators are accounted for, that’s less than 10 percent of the lowest No Number Trainer count. Prices reflect this too. A near mint Pikachu Illustrator can top millions in auctions, while No Number Trainers sell for thousands depending on condition and type.[1][2][3]
For collectors chasing these, check grading sites like PSA for population reports. Pikachu Illustrators stay locked in top collections, but No Number Trainers show up more in the market. Both boost your set’s value, but the Illustrator is the true unicorn.[1][4]
