Pikachu Illustrator cards are among the rarest Pokemon treasures out there, with only about 39 known to exist in total. But if you are wondering how many have surface wear, the answer is most of them, since just a handful have made it to top grades without it.
These cards come from a 1998 Japanese illustration contest where fans drew their own Pikachu designs. Winners got 20 physical promo cards printed each, but not all survived in perfect shape. Experts estimate between 13 and 39 copies still exist today, based on graded records and collector reports. Out of those, only a few have earned high PSA grades that mean no real surface issues.
PSA grading looks at four main things: centering, corners, edges, and surface. Surface wear shows up as scratches, print defects, or marks from handling over the years. A PSA 10 is flawless across the board, PSA 9 or 9.5 allows tiny imperfections, and lower grades like 7 or below often have clear surface wear.
From what collectors track, just two Pikachu Illustrator cards have hit PSA 10, the absolute best with no surface wear at all. One sold for over 5 million dollars when Logan Paul bought it, and he later put a pristine one up for auction around 5.3 million. These gems skipped surface problems thanks to careful storage.
A few more sit at PSA 9 or 9.5, where surface wear is minimal or absent, maybe just a faint factory print line. That leaves the bulk, around 30 or more, with noticeable surface wear. These get PSA 7, 8, or lower grades. For example, recent sales show lower-grade versions trading hands, but they do not fetch the big bucks like the perfect ones.
Why so much surface wear? These cards are over 25 years old. They traveled through contests, mail, and collector hands before anyone knew their value. Early print quality and storage in humid Japan added risks too. Even pack-fresh cards can have tiny print flaws that drop the surface score.
If you own one, check for surface wear under good light. It can tank the value fast, turning a potential five-figure card into a few thousand. Get it graded by PSA to know for sure. Collectors chase the no-wear versions hardest, but worn ones still hold solid prices for fans. Keep yours sleeved and in a top loader to avoid adding more wear.
