Have you ever wondered about the Pikachu Illustrator card, one of the rarest Pokemon cards out there? This special promo card comes from a 1998 illustration contest in Japan, where kids drew their favorite Pokemon. Only a tiny number were printed as prizes for the top winners.
Experts believe just 39 Pikachu Illustrator cards were ever made in total. Out of those, around 13 to maybe 100 could still exist today, but the real number is likely much lower because many got lost, damaged, or thrown away over the years.[2] Only a few have shown up in the collector world, with just a handful graded by PSA, the top grading service that checks card condition.
What does “could be inherited” mean here? It points to cards sitting in old collections, attics, or family albums from the late 90s. Back then, winners were kids who might have stashed the card away without knowing its future value. Parents or grandparents could pass these down without realizing what they have. Today, with Pokemon mania back strong, more might surface from estates or forgotten boxes.
Think about it: a pristine PSA 10 version sold for over 5 million dollars in 2022, bought by YouTuber Logan Paul.[2][3][4] That grabs headlines, but even lower-grade ones fetch huge prices because so few are known. No one tracks every single one, so ungraded copies could pop up anytime from inheritance.
For collectors on PokemonPricing.com, keep an eye out. If you find an old Pikachu Illustrator in grandma’s stuff, get it authenticated fast. Check for the telltale signs like the Japanese text and promo stamp. Prices stay sky-high due to this mystery supply, but sales data shows steady demand for similar rare promos like Pikachu 214 from recent contests, going for 15 to 137 dollars depending on grade.[1] The Illustrator beats them all in scarcity.
