If you are a fan of Pokémon cards and you are serious about collecting or investing, you know that some cards are absolute treasures. In this article we go through the three most expensive Pokémon cards on the market: their value, their history and why they are so sought after.
1. Illustrator Pikachu PSA 10
- Market price: Around €6,000,000+
- Released: 1998
- Card number: No number (promo)
Why this card is so special
The Illustrator Pikachu is the holy grail for Pokémon collectors. The card was originally handed out in 1998 as the prize for a drawing contest organised by the Japanese magazine Corocoro. Only 39 copies were made, which makes the card almost mythical in the world of collectibles.
What makes this card really special is the PSA 10 grade (mint). These cards are rarely found in perfect condition, which makes them all the more valuable. Only a handful of copies exist in top condition, and that explains the sky-high price.
This card is not just rare; it represents the history of Pokémon, and its value keeps climbing for collectors and investors alike.
2. 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard Base Set PSA 10
- Market price: Around €250,000 - €500,000
- Released: 1999
- Card number: #4
Why this card is so sought after
The 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard is arguably the most iconic Pokémon card of all time. It came out in 1999 as part of the Base Set, but what makes it unique is the shadowless variant. The missing shadow on the right-hand side of the card makes this version rare and highly wanted by collectors.
A PSA 10 of this card is extremely valuable, mostly because of Charizard's popularity as the face of Pokémon. Condition weighs far heavier on this card than on most others, which means even copies in a lower grade can still fetch a lot.
The 1st Edition Charizard is one of the most wanted cards of all time, and its value keeps going up as the years pass.
3. Blastoise Wizards of the Coast Presentation Galaxy Star Holo
- Market price: €318,559
- Released: 1998
- Card number: No number (promo)
Why this card is so valuable
The Blastoise Wizards of the Coast Presentation Galaxy Star Holo is an extremely rare card that was made in 1998. These cards were printed specially as presentation cards for Wizards of the Coast, the first publisher of the Pokémon TCG in the United States. The Galaxy Star holo is what makes this card unique, because that holographic effect does not appear on the regular versions.
This card is exceptionally rare and is wanted above all for its hidden history and the fact that only a handful of copies survive in top condition. Graded PSA 10, this card reached a price of €318,559 at a recent auction.
The Blastoise Galaxy Star Holo is a must-have for serious collectors looking for a piece of Pokémon history.
