Pikachu Illustrator Card (1998) The ultimate holy grail of Pokémon cards. Awarded to winners of an illustration contest in Japan, only about 40 exist. One sold for over $900,000.
1999 First Edition Shadowless Charizard (Holo) Iconic and incredibly valuable, especially in mint condition. Prices can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands depending on condition.
Trophy Pikachu Trainer Cards (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) Given as prizes in early Pokémon tournaments. Extremely rare, especially the No. 1 card.
1998 Tamamushi University Magikarp Trophy Card Given to winners of a Japanese university tournament. Only a few exist.
1999 Tropical Mega Battle Cards Cards from this rare tournament, including the Tropical Wind card, are very limited and valuable.
Prerelease Raichu Card Said to have been mistakenly printed and only a few copies are known, making it highly coveted.
Shining Charizard (Neo Destiny, 2002) One of the first “Shining” cards, highly valuable among collectors.
Master’s Key Card (2010 World Championship) Awarded to participants of the World Championships. Very limited edition and collectible.