Pikachu Illustrator cards are among the rarest Pokémon cards ever made, with only about 39 known to exist in total, but no exact public count tracks how many show humidity damage.
These cards come from a 1998 Japanese illustration contest where kids drew their favorite Pokémon. Winners got these special promo cards printed just for them. Experts believe 39 were handed out, based on contest records and collector tracking over the years[2][4]. That’s why one pristine PSA 10 version sold for over $5 million when Logan Paul bought it in 2022[2][3][4].
Humidity damage happens when cards get exposed to moist air, causing the paper to warp, bubble, or stain. Pokémon cards from the late 90s often stored poorly in Japan, where humid summers are common. Corners might curl, colors fade, or holograms lose shine. This drops their grade big time—think PSA 5 or lower instead of a perfect 10[4].
No official list says exactly how many Pikachu Illustrators have this damage. Grading companies like PSA log what they see, but not every card gets graded. Of the known 39, most have been checked by now due to their value. Collectors guess 10 to 15 might show humidity issues, based on auction photos and sales talk[1][2]. For example, lower-grade sales often note “storage wear” or “edge waviness,” which points to moisture[1].
Why does this matter for prices? A damaged Pikachu Illustrator still sells for hundreds of thousands. A humidity-hit one graded PSA 7 might go for $50,000 to $100,000 at auction, way less than the top ones[1][3]. Clean cards hold value best, so owners baby them in slabs or climate-controlled safes.
If you own one, check for soft spots or discoloration under good light. Getting it graded reveals the truth. Prices shift with sales—recent promos like Pikachu 214 from 2024 contests trade cheap at $15 to $20 raw, but Illustrators stay king[1]. Track auctions to spot damaged ones popping up.
