Have you ever wondered just how few Pikachu Illustrator cards are out there in top shape? This ultra-rare promo card from a 1998 Japanese illustration contest is one of the holy grails of Pokemon collecting, with only a tiny handful professionally preserved by grading companies like PSA.
First, a quick background. The Pikachu Illustrator was a prize for winners of that contest. Winners got these special cards, but most were thrown away or lost over time. Experts estimate anywhere from 13 to maybe 100 total copies still exist in any condition. That scarcity drives insane prices, like the one Logan Paul bought for over 5 million dollars in 2022. It was a perfect PSA 10 grade, meaning it got the highest score from Professional Sports Authenticator for its pristine edges, corners, surface, and centering.[2][3][4]
Now, to your main question: how many have been professionally graded and preserved? That’s the real chase for collectors, since grading locks in condition and value. Only a few have popped up in auctions and sales records. The most famous is that PSA 10 owned by Logan Paul, which he planned to auction off in pristine shape.[3][4] Sources point to just 1 to 3 confirmed PSA 10s or near-perfect grades known to the public.[2][4] Overall graded copies across all levels? Even rarer tracking, but likely under 10 total, based on auction history and expert chatter. No full public list exists, as private collections keep some hidden.
Why so few preserved? These cards were never meant for packs or heavy play. They sat in drawers or got damaged before grading boomed in the 2010s. High grades demand factory-fresh quality, and time works against that. For comparison, other rare promos like Spikey-Eared Pichu have only three PSA grades logged ever.[2]
If you’re hunting prices on PokemonPricing.com, ungraded Pikachu Illustrators don’t trade much, but graded ones explode. A PSA 10 can hit millions, while lower grades still fetch thousands if authenticated. Keep an eye on sales sites, as new discoveries occasionally surface and shake the market.[1][2] Collectors dream of finding one tucked away, but the odds are lightning slim.
