Super rare Pokémon card sells for over $500K

By Dean Murray

A Pokémon trading card has sold for $555K at auction.

A copy of the rare "Prerelease Raichu" character card set the world record price for a single English-language Pokémon game card in Monday's, Sept. 22 sale.

Jesus Garcia, Consignment Director of Trading Card Games at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, said: "It was an honor to be able to offer this extraordinary card, which had been shrouded in mystery for so long.

"The result was well-deserved for the card."

Heritage Auctions said the card is the sole example so far to be authenticated and encapsulated by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), a leading company in the authentication and grading of trading cards and autographs.

Heritage Auctions said: "What makes this card so special is the mark "Prerelease" in the lower right corner of the artwork of the character, a factory error that dates back to the early days of the game, when game publisher Wizards of the Coast hosted test league events where players learned the game."

The company explained that four official prerelease promo cards — Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket and Gym Heroes — were given as prizes at these events.

They added: "Apparently during production of one of the prize prerelease cards, a handful of Base Set Raichu cards were also marked 'Prerelease" by mistake, though the error was never publicly acknowledged and dismissed as rumor for years."

Jesus Garcia said: "This area of the market is reaching all-time highs, and results like this are a clear indication of its strength.

"These cards were once considered a child's game, and now they're a full-fledged collectible market."