While the hype for Pokemon cards, especially the graded first-editions continue to rise, a rare first edition 1999 Pokémon Charizard No. 4 card sold for $336,000 at auction.
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The Charizard card, sold by Heritage Auctions, said the Pokemon Trading Card Game Charizard No 4 First Edition Base Set Trading Card is a highly sought item among collectors due to its being from the first English-language run of Pokemon cards.
Here’s the list of the 3 highest-selling Pokémon cards.
1. 1998 Japanese Promo Card Holo Illustrator Pikachu
Card sale date: February 2021
Card selling price: $375,000
What makes it special: As the most popular and well-known Pokémon character, it’s no surprise that Pikachu tops the list of most valuable Pokémon cards. Only 39 Illustrator Pikachu cards were given out to the winners of three art competitions conducted by CoroCoro Comic magazine.
Competitors created their own Pokémon art, and winners received this Pikachu card, showing the character drawing two other Pokémon — Charmander and Mew. This artwork was created by Atsuko Nishida, who designed Pikachu for the Game Boy Advance.
Specifics of the particular sale: The PSA rated this card as near mint condition grade seven, which is coded as PSA 7 NRMT.
2. First Edition Charizard Holo
Card sale date: December 2020
Card selling price: $369,000
What makes it special: Another Charizard card, this one is a first edition of the shadowless holo card. This was an early Pokémon design, which means it was simple, without shading behind art and text to make the graphics pop.
Specifics of the particular sale: This particular card is ranked as a Gold Label Pristine 10 by SGC, another card-rating company.
3. Backless Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Holo
Card sale date: January 2021
Card selling price: $360,000
What makes it special: In 1998, before Pokémon came to the USA and skyrocketed in popularity, Wizards of the Coast did a test run for some Pokémon cards. This card came from that run, which was never meant for the public and doesn’t have any printing on the back of the card.