- A 1998 Pikachu “Illustrator” holographic card sold for $900,000 last Wednesday, breaking the previous record for most expensive Pokémon card sold at $375,000 in February 2021.
- The rare Pokémon card is only one of 41 copies that exist and was sold in “Near Mint 7” condition.
- The “Illustrator” holographic card was originally handed out as a part of an illustration contest that was held in 1997 and 1998.
The previous record for most expensive Pokémon card to be auctioned was shattered after a rare 1998 Pikachu “Illustrator” holographic Pokémon card sold for $900,000 last Wednesday.
There are only 41 copies of the rare Pokémon card, of which 39 were originally awarded to CoroCoro Comic magazine readers who submitted winning entries for an illustration contest held in 1997 and 1998, according to Dicebreaker.
The nearly $1 million Pikachu card graded as near mint was sold through New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions on Feb. 23.
What the T206 Honus Wagner is to baseball cards, this Pikachu-Holo Illustrator essentially is to Pokémon cards.
Fewer than 40 copies exist, with 24 of them currently graded by PSA, and this *Pop 2* PSA 7 made some history last night over at @GoldinCo. 📈 pic.twitter.com/LfZLWDXJQC
— PSAcard (@PSAcard) February 24, 2022
The card was illustrated by the artist who designed Pikachu, Atusko Nishida, and shows Pikachu holding art supplies in each hand while surrounded by paintings of Pokémon such as Charmander.
Bidding prices for rare Pokémon cards have skyrocketed as card collectors on YouTube and social media influencers, such as Logan Paul, have reignited fans’ interest in the potential financial gains of Pokémon card collecting.
In 2019, another “Illustrator” Pikachu card, deemed by card-grading company PSA to be “mint 9” condition – a more pristine copy than the “near mint 7” sold more recently – was sold for $195,000. Another “near mint 7” copy was auctioned off in February of last year for $375,000.
Featured Image via PSA Card
