The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest Pokemon cards ever made, with only about 39 copies produced in total back in 1998 as prizes for a Japanese illustration contest.[2] Out of those, just 12 to 15 are known to still exist today in private collections, and many experts believe even fewer are held by long-term Pokemon collectors who have owned them for years without flipping them for quick cash.[2][4]
This card was never sold in stores. Winners of the contest got them as awards, which explains the tiny supply. Most ended up in the hands of dedicated fans from Japan who entered the drawing and cherished the prizes. Over time, some have surfaced at auctions, like the PSA 10 gem that Logan Paul bought for over 5 million dollars in 2022, but he is not a long-term holder from the original group.[2][3][4]
Long-term collectors, the kind who have built massive Pokemon stashes over decades, likely control the bulk of surviving copies. Think folks like the guy in Israel with one of the world’s top collections, who values cards for their history over hype.[4] These owners rarely sell. They grade them through services like PSA to preserve condition, but keep them locked away as holy grails. Reports show only a handful have hit the market in pristine shape, with grades like PSA 10 being ultra-rare among them.[1][2]
Prices reflect this scarcity. A top-grade Pikachu Illustrator can top 5 million, but even lower grades draw huge bids because supply stays tight.[1][3] For collectors eyeing one, focus on auction records and grading data. Sites track sales, but true long-term holders stay quiet, making exact counts fuzzy. Still, the consensus hovers around a dozen solid examples in steady, veteran hands.[2] Recent promo Pikachus, like the 2024 Illustration Contest version numbered 214, trade for under 20 dollars raw, showing how the original towers over modern stuff in rarity.[1] If you are hunting vintage, patience pays off with these enduring collector treasures.
