If you were a hardcore Pokemon Card player back in the early 2000's, you might want to go back and make sure you don't have one of these just sitting there collecting dust. The card in question is called a "Pikachu Illustrator" Trainer Promo Hologram and showcases the brand mascot holding up some drawing utensils. Though, personally, it kinda looks like Pikachu is missing its arms…but that's just me.
The card was expected to go for over $50K at auction, but its final price was $54,970 and was sold at Heritage Auctions in Beverley Hills, California last week on November 18th.
Here's an excerpt from the card's auction page:
"What makes it so rare is that it was not sold, but awarded as a prize in an illustration contest through CoroCoro Comic. This unique card was created specifically for the contest. In the January 1998 issue, three 1st Place winners won a copy of the card, as did another 20 2nd Place winners. With cards awarded in two more contests that year, there were a maximum of 39 copies released. It is not known exactly how many surviving copies are still around; however, only 10 PSA certified copies are known, a very important note because there are many counterfeit copies."
So there you have it; if you were one of the lucky 39 to get the rare card, get your butt over to an auction house, post haste. Then again, you could always sit on it for another ten years or so and see how the value of the card increases over time.
Sources: [IGN, Heritage Auctions]
