“Pikachu Illustrator,” a rare Pokemon card that features Pikachu holding a paintbrush, has sold for a record amount of $54,970 to a collector in Hong Kong.
Only 39 copies of the card were allegedly made, with around 10 said to still be in good condition.
The card brought in nearly $5,000 more than expected at auction, which took place in Los Angeles, with the item originally valued at $50,000. The card was worth just $23,000 in the early 2000’s.
“The Pikachu Illustrator Card was given in January of 1998 to winners of the CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest,” said Director of Operations for Comics at Heritage Auctions, Barry Sandoval. “Only 20-39 copies of this card were released, 10 of which are graded in top condition and it is unknown how many still remain with the public.”
According to IGN, the card description reads: “We certify that your illustration is an excellent entry in the Pokémon Card Game Illust Contest. Therefore, we state that you are an Officially Authorized Pokémon Card Illustrator and admire your skill.”
The seller of the card did not want to be identified, but is reported to be in his mid-20’s, and a Pokemon fan who started to collect the cards in his teenage years.
Charlie Nash is a reporter for Breitbart Tech. You can follow him on Twitter @MrNashington or like his page at Facebook.
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