Have you ever wondered about the Pikachu Illustrator card, one of the rarest Pokemon cards out there? This special promo card from 1998 was a prize for winners of a Japanese illustration contest. Only 39 copies were ever printed in total.[2]
Out of those 39, not all are up for grabs. Some owners hold onto them tightly, treating them like family heirlooms or museum pieces. Experts believe only about 13 to 20 of these cards actually exist in the wild today, meaning the rest might be lost, damaged beyond repair, or tucked away forever.[2]
Why will some never hit the market? A few key owners have made it clear they will not sell. The most famous case is the pristine PSA 10 version bought by Logan Paul for over $5 million in 2022. He has since announced plans to auction it, but until then, it stays off the sales block.[3][4] Other top-condition copies sit in private collections where owners say no to offers, no matter the price. Think of cards owned by long-time collectors in Japan who entered the original contest, or ones held by estates that pass them down generations.[2]
Grading data backs this up. PSA, the top grading service, has only authenticated a handful in high grades. Low-population reports show just a few PSA 9s and 10s logged, with many more ungraded or hidden away.[1][2] For everyday collectors, this scarcity drives prices sky-high, but it also means you will never see certain copies for sale in your lifetime.
Recent sales of similar Pikachu promos, like the 2024 Illustration Contest version (Pikachu #214), go for $15 to $20 in near mint condition, but they pale next to the original Illustrator’s value.[1] The true unicorns stay locked away, fueling endless chase among serious buyers. If you spot one listed, double-check its story, because fakes pop up often in this ultra-rare space.
