Pokémon cards are experiencing a new resurgence. Recently, a Shiny Charizard card, signed by legendary Pokémon artist Ken Sugimori, has sold for over $13,000.
Pokémon Fandom Rallies to Buy Signed Card
For those of our readers who are unfamiliar with Sugimori’s work and credentials, he is the prominent Japanese video game designer, illustrator and artist who is famous for being the main character designer and art director for the Pokémon franchise. It was Sugimori that drew and finalized all of the original 151 Pokémon, which we all remember fondly. I, for one, know them all by heart.
The card features a rare art of everyone’s favorite dragon-type Pokémon Charizard, dating back from the Team Rocket expansion, which released back in 1997 in Japan. The Charizard artwork was illustrated by Sugimori himself.
The card featured in the auction is the Japanese version of the card. It also bears Sugimori’s iconic signature and includes the illustrator’s name in both his native Japanese, and in English, along with a doodle of Pikachu’s face.
While there have been a number of rare Pokémon cards signed by Sugimori and sold in auctions, including numerous Charizard cards (including the English version of Dark Charizard), this particular card is reportedly the only Japanese Team Rocket Dark Charizard copy to have been granted a “Near Mint 7” condition by the PSA, on their ten-point scale.
To those of our readers unfamiliar with the PSA – it is the world’s largest third-party authentication company; the industry leader in card grading as well as autograph and memorabilia authentication.
According the PSA’s value estimates, a Japanese Dark Charizard in “Near Mint 7” condition has a value of little over 100 USD. Currently, there are nearly 400 such cards that have been graded, with more popping up daily. None of them, however, can compare to this particular signed piece.
Pokémon Is Very Much All the Rage Today
Naturally, the signature and the uniqueness of the way it was signed (with Pikachu’s hand-drawn face doodle) gives the card unique value and rarity, making it truly a one-of-a-kind piece. The signed Dark Charizard was sold for 13 200 USD on August 14th via the PWCC auction house.
It is fair to say Pokémon cards have been rising in popularity in recent times. Not too long ago, Logan Paul himself shocked the world with his newest Pokémon acquisition. During his pro-wrestling debut at WrestleMania 38, the influencer wore a 5 million dollar Pokémon card necklace.
And so, dear reader, you might want to dig out your Pokémon collection – who knows what rare gems you might find in there! But even if you didn’t, the nostalgia trip for a beloved franchise is well worth it. And remember – Pokémon cards never go out of fashion!