How Many Pikachu Illustrator Cards Exist That Define Pokémon Rarity
If you collect Pokémon cards, you have heard of the Pikachu Illustrator. This card sits at the top of rarity in the Pokémon world. It shows what makes some cards priceless. Only a tiny number exist, and that low count drives prices sky high.
The Pikachu Illustrator comes from a 1998 art contest in Japan by CoroCoro magazine. Kids drew Pikachu pictures. Winners got this special promo card with their artwork on it. The contest made just 39 cards in total. That is the official print run from Pokémon. No more were ever made.[2][4]
Out of those 39, not all still exist in good shape today. Some got lost or damaged over time. Experts track graded copies through services like PSA. Right now, only about 13 to around 100 copies are known to still be out there in any condition. But the real gems are the perfect ones. Just a few have earned top PSA 10 grades, which means near flawless.[2]
This scarcity defines rarity in Pokémon cards. Think about it. Common cards print by the millions. Even rare holos make thousands. But Pikachu Illustrator? Only 39 started, and far fewer survive. That makes each one unique. One PSA 10 version sold for over 5 million dollars in 2022. Logan Paul bought it, and it made headlines. It proves how low supply meets huge demand.[2][3][4]
Grading plays a big role too. PSA scores cards from 1 to 10 on edges, corners, surface, and centering. A Pikachu Illustrator in PSA 10 is like finding a diamond. Print flaws from back then make perfect copies extra rare. Lower grades sell for less, but still fetch big money.[1][4]
Other Pikachu cards try to match this hype, like promo #214 from the 2024 Illustration Contest. Those sell for 15 to 20 dollars raw, or up to 137 dollars graded PSA 10. They nod to the original but print way more. Volume stays low at a few sales per week, but nothing like the original’s one-of-39 status.[1]
Rarity like this sets the bar for all Pokémon collecting. Cards with known low prints, like Spikey-Eared Pichu or Trophy Pikachu, chase the same thrill. But Pikachu Illustrator remains king. Its story mixes history, art, and pure scarcity. If you spot one for sale, check the grade and provenance close. It could change your collection forever.[2][3]
