---
title: "Pikachu Illustrator no number (CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest promo) price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/pokemon/promo/pikachu-illustrator/
category: Pokémon
updated: 2026-09-28
as_of: 2026-11-11
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# Pikachu Illustrator no number (CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest promo): price, verified sales and population

> Pikachu Illustrator is a Japanese trophy promo associated with CoroCoro illustration contests. Collectors search for it because its distribution story, condition rarity, and public record sales are unlike normal pack-issued Pokemon cards.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 6 verified sales of the Pikachu Illustrator no number (CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest promo) as of November 11, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $5,000,000 for a Japanese promo PSA 9 on September 18, 2026 at Heritage Auctions.
- The highest verified sale on record is $16,492,000 for a Japanese promo PSA 10 on February 16, 2026 at Goldin.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Japanese promo | PSA 10 | — | 0 | $16,492,000 (2026-02-16) | $16,492,000 (2026-02-16) | 1 |
| Japanese promo | PSA 9 | — | 1 | $5,000,000 (2026-09-18) | $5,000,000 (2026-09-18) | 15 |
| Japanese promo | PSA 8 | — | 0 | $360,000 (2025-06-27) | $480,000 (2022-10-06) | — |
| Japanese promo | PSA 7 | — | 0 | $375,000 (2021-02-28) | $375,000 (2021-02-28) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-18 | Japanese promo | PSA 9 | $5,000,000 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://comics.ha.com/itm/memorabilia/trading-cards/pokemon-pikachu-illustrator-unnumbered-promo-corocoro-comics-psa-trading-card-game-mint-9-the-pokemon-company-1998-mba-gold-diamond/a/7459-36028.s) |
| 2026-02-16 | Japanese promo | PSA 10 | $16,492,000 | included | Goldin | [link](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2026/2/logan-pauls-rare-pokemon-card-becomes-most-expensive-ever-sold-in-record-setting-auction) |
| 2025-06-27 | Japanese promo | PSA 8 | $360,000 | included | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/premier/c3f93e0e-4249-11f0-97be-0a1c7262947d/1998-pokemon-japanese-promo-holo-illustrator-pikachu-psa-8-nm-mt) |
| 2022-10-06 | Japanese promo | PSA 8 | $480,000 | included | Goldin Auctions via PSA Cert | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/01465538/psa) |
| 2021-07-22 | Japanese promo | PSA 10 | $5,275,000 | excluded | Private sale reported by Guinness World Records | [link](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/4/logan-paul-owns-5-275-million-pokemon-card-after-record-breaking-trade-697189) |
| 2021-02-28 | Japanese promo | PSA 7 | $375,000 | excluded | eBay via PSA cert page | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/93101349/psa) |

## How to identify each version

- **Japanese promo**: Japanese text, Illustrator heading, pen-symbol rarity area, Pikachu artwork holding drawing tools, and PSA labels commonly describe it as 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Pikachu-Holo Illustrator.

**Identity note:** The seed identity is correct at a high level. The card was not a pack card and should be treated as a Japanese trophy/promo distribution, not a numbered set card.

## Why this card matters

Pikachu Illustrator is a Japanese promotional trophy card rather than a normal set card. Guinness World Records reported that a PSA 10 copy sold at Goldin for $16,492,000 in February 2026 and that Logan Paul had previously acquired the same grade through a July 22, 2021 private transaction valued at $5,275,000. Those sources identify the card as a contest prize and place its public attention around a very small number of known high-grade copies.

## Identifying the exact version

The target identity is the 1998 Japanese Promo Pikachu-Holo Illustrator, with no normal set number. PSA cert pages describe the item as Pokemon Japanese Promo, Pikachu-Holo, variety Illustrator. It should not be merged with modern Pikachu illustration rares, Van Gogh Pikachu, standard Japanese promos, or English Pikachu cards. The key identifiers are the Japanese text, Illustrator title, Atsuko Nishida artwork, and trophy-card distribution context rather than a pack checklist slot.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

This card's market is dominated by provenance, grade, and whether the sale is public, private, or attached to a named copy. BetterPop's PSA census page, drawing from PSA/GemRate data, reported 56 PSA grade events, with 1 PSA 10 and 15 PSA 9s, current pull September 20, 2026. Because the census may include regrades and crossovers, those numbers should be treated as grading events, not unique physical cards.

## Authenticity checks

Compare against official references; use multiple checks; no destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. For a Pikachu Illustrator, provenance and seller documentation matter more than usual because raw examples are rarely available and counterfeits are plausible. Match the slab cert, label text, grade, images, and ownership history; examine holder security and card details; and remember that PSA warns a valid cert number can be copied, so a lookup does not authenticate the physical item alone.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** There are exactly 39 surviving Pikachu Illustrator cards. **What the evidence says:** Guinness reports 39 were given out, while BetterPop notes community tracking suggests at least 41 and that survival count is not fully settled.
- **Myth:** The PSA population equals unique surviving cards. **What the evidence says:** BetterPop specifically warns the PSA census can exceed physical copies because regrades and crossovers create grading events.
- **Myth:** A record PSA 10 sale values every Pikachu Illustrator. **What the evidence says:** Chapter 03 requires exact grade, cert, provenance, venue, date, and sale type; lower grades and private trades require separate records.
- **Myth:** A trophy-card headline guarantees future appreciation. **What the evidence says:** Chapter 10 rejects guaranteed appreciation claims and requires downside and liquidity analysis instead.

## FAQ

### How much did the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator sell for at Goldin in 2026?

Guinness World Records reported a $16,492,000 Goldin auction sale on February 16, 2026, with buyer's premium included [1].

### How much did Logan Paul pay for the PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator in 2021?

Guinness World Records reported a July 22, 2021 private transaction worth $5,275,000, made from a PSA 9 card valued at $1,275,000 plus $4,000,000 cash [2].

### How many PSA 10 Pikachu Illustrator cards exist?

BetterPop reported 1 PSA 10 grade event for Pikachu Illustrator, with a current pull dated September 20, 2026 [4].

### Was Pikachu Illustrator sold in packs?

No; Guinness World Records states it was never originally sold and was released as a prize in a 1998 illustration contest [1].

### Who illustrated Pikachu Illustrator?

Guinness World Records credits the card to Atsuko Nishida, the original creator of Pikachu [1].

### Is the exact surviving count established?

No; Guinness uses 39 distributed copies, while BetterPop notes community tracking suggests at least 41, so the surviving count is not established as a single official number [1,4].

## Sources

1. [Logan Paul's rare Pokemon card becomes most expensive ever sold in record-setting auction](https://dev-micro.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2026/2/logan-pauls-rare-pokemon-card-becomes-most-expensive-ever-sold-in-record-setting-auction) (Guinness World Records)
2. [Logan Paul owns $5.275 million Pokemon card after record-breaking trade](https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/4/logan-paul-owns-5-275-million-pokemon-card-after-record-breaking-trade-697189) (Guinness World Records)
3. [PSA Cert Verification 93101349](https://www.psacard.com/cert/93101349/psa) (PSA)
4. [Pikachu Illustrator pop report: 56 grade events, one perfect ten](https://better-pop.com/blog/pikachu-illustrator-pop-report/) (BetterPop)
5. [PSA Certification Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA)
6. [Did I purchase fake or counterfeit cards?](https://support.pokemon.com/hc/en-us/articles/360002068953-Did-I-purchase-fake-or-counterfeit-cards) (Pokemon Support)

## How to cite

> Pikachu Illustrator no number (CoroCoro Comic Illustration Contest promo). CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/pokemon/promo/pikachu-illustrator/ (accessed 2026-11-11).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/pokemon--promo--pikachu-illustrator.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/