Pikachu Illustrator and Trophy Kangaskhan are two of the rarest Pokemon cards ever made, but Pikachu Illustrator wins hands down with far fewer copies in existence.
Pikachu Illustrator comes from a 1998 Japanese illustration contest where only the top 39 winners got one as a prize. Experts believe just 13 to 100 of these cards still exist today, with only a handful graded by PSA in top condition. One perfect PSA 10 version sold for over 5 million dollars when YouTuber Logan Paul bought it in 2022, making it the king of rare Pokemon cards.[2][3][4]
Trophy Kangaskhan, on the other hand, was a prize card from the 1998 Pokemon League in Japan. It celebrated the winners of that event, but unlike Pikachu Illustrator, no one knows the exact print run. Far more of these have surfaced over the years, with multiple high-grade copies graded and sold at auction. While it is super rare and valuable, it does not match the tiny confirmed numbers of Pikachu Illustrator.[2]
For collectors chasing these holy grails, Pikachu Illustrator stays the ultimate chase because of its confirmed low count from the contest rules. Trophy Kangaskhan holds value as a trophy card from the early leagues, but you will see more of them pop up in sales compared to the Illustrator. Prices for both skyrocket in gem mint condition, so check recent sales on sites like PriceCharting or auction houses to track the market. Keep an eye on graded populations from PSA to gauge true scarcity.
