The Pikachu Illustrator card is one of the rarest Pokemon cards ever made, with only about 39 copies known to exist worldwide from its original 1998 Japanese contest. No search results or reliable records confirm any specific Pikachu Illustrator cards located in Europe, so the number there is likely zero or unknown.
This card comes from a CoroCoro Comic illustration contest in Japan, where winners got these special promo cards as prizes. All of them were printed in Japan and handed out there, with no official European version or distribution mentioned in Pokemon history.[1] Experts track around 39 total copies globally, including a few high-grade ones like the PSA 10 sold by Logan Paul for millions.[2]
Pokemon cards did spread to Europe early on, with shows airing in places like Germany by 1999 and merchandise getting scarce fast.[1] But the Pikachu Illustrator stayed a Japanese exclusive. Modern Illustrator-style promos exist, like the 2024 contest Pikachu #214 or #242/SV-P, but those are different cards with wider print runs and sales in Europe.[3][5]
If a Pikachu Illustrator ever shows up in Europe, it would be from private collectors moving it across borders, not official stock. Prices for the real 1998 version stay sky-high, often over $1 million for top grades, due to that tiny supply.[2][4] Keep an eye on auction sites if you spot one claiming European roots, but verify with PSA or BGS grading to avoid fakes. For everyday Pikachu promos available in Europe, check recent sales around $15 to $65 ungraded or low-grade.[3][5]
