Dozens of Rare Pokémon Cards Certified by CGC Trading Cards in March Heritage Sale

Dozens of rare Pokémon cards certified by CGC® Trading Cards — including two popular variants — are part of a Heritage Auctions sale being held March 25, with bidding already underway.

The most noteworthy lot is a First Edition Dark Dragonite from the 2000 Pokémon Team Rocket Set (5/82) with a “No Holo Error” graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81069). The Team Rocket Set featured non-holographic copies of their holographic counterparts; however, this particular card has the holographic card number of 5/82 instead of the non-holographic number of 22/82. The error, attributed on the CGC Trading Card certification label, greatly increases desirability among collectors.

The sale features another popular variant, a Charizard Holo from the 1999 Pokémon Unlimited Base Set (4/102) with a "Black Dot Error" graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81061). This variant includes a black dot over the “t” in “Nintendo” at the bottom of the front of the card. (To learn more about Base Set Variants, click here.)

The CGC Trading Cards graders expertly certify trading cards in more than a dozen languages, and this sale includes cards printed in English, French, Japanese and German that have been authenticated and graded by CGC Trading Cards. (To learn more about cards that CGC Trading Cards certifies, click here.)

For example, the auction includes two examples of a First Edition Charizard Holo: one from the 1999 German Pokémon Base Set (4/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81043) and another from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (4/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81047). Another valuable card from the same French set is a First Edition Gyarados Holo (6/102) graded CGC 9.5 (lot 81049).

Eleven more cards from this set are part of the auction:

• A First Edition Alakazam Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (1/102) graded CGC 9.5 (lot 81045)
• A First Edition Chansey Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (3/102) graded CGC 9.5 (lot 81046)
• A First Edition Clefairy Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (5/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81048)
• A First Edition Hitmonchan Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (7/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81050)
• A First Edition Magneton Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (9/102) graded CGC 9.5 (lot 81051)
• A First Edition Mewtwo Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (10/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81052)
• A First Edition Nidoking Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (11/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81053)
• A First Edition Ninetales Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (12/102) graded CGC 9 (lot 81054)
• A First Edition Poliwrath Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (13/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81055)
• A First Edition Raichu Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (14/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81056)
• A First Edition Zapdos Holo from the 1999 French Pokémon Base Set (16/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81057)

Also offered are 20 Japanese cards from numerous sets, including the Base Set; Gold, Silver, to a New World; Gym Booster 1: Leaders’ Stadium; Gym 2: Challenge from the Darkness; Crossing the Ruins…; Rocket Gang; Awakening Legends; and The Mystery of the Fossils. Japanese Pokémon sets were typically released one year prior to English sets, and the artwork on English cards sometimes deviated significantly from Japanese originals. Available lots with two cards are the most valuable Japanese cards up for bid:

• A Magneton Holo from the 1996 Japanese Pokémon Base Set graded CGC 6.0 (lot 81106)
• A group of two cards from the 1996 Japanese Pokémon The Mystery of the Fossils Set: an Aerodactyl Holo graded CGC 6.0 and a Haunter Holo graded CGC 5.5 (lot 81108)
• A Dark Charizard Holo from the 1997 Japanese Pokémon Rocket Gang Set graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81109)
• A group of two cards from the 1997 Japanese Pokémon Rocket Gang Set: a Dark Golbat Holo graded CGC 8.5 and a Dark Dragonite Holo graded CGC 5.5 (lot 81110)
• A group of two cards from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gym 2: Challenge from the Darkness Set: a Giovanni’s Nidoqueen graded CGC 6.0 and a Koga’s Ditto Holo graded CGC 5.0 (lot 81111)
• A Misty’s Golduck Holo from the 1998 Japanese Pokémon Gym Booster 1: Leaders’ Stadium Set graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81112)
• A Blaine’s Arcanine Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gym 2: Challenge from the Darkness Set graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81113)
• A Meganium Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gold, Silver, to a New World Set #154 graded CGC 7.0 (lot 81114)
• An Ampharos Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gold, Silver, to a New World Set graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81115)
• A Jumpluff Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gold, Silver, to a New World Set graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81116)
• A Slowking Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gold, Silver, to a New World Set graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81117)
• A Skarmory Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gold, Silver, to a New World Set graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81118)
• A Kingdra Holo from the 1999 Japanese Pokémon Gold, Silver, to a New World Set graded CGC 7.5 (lot 81119)
• A Magneton Holo from the 2001 Japanese Pokémon Awakening Legends Set graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81120)
• A Houndoom Holo from the 2001 Japanese Pokémon Awakening Legends Set graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81121)
• A Tyranitar Holo from the 2000 Japanese Pokémon Crossing the Ruins… Set graded CGC 8.0 (lot 81122)
• An Unown A from the 2000 Japanese Pokémon Crossing the Ruins… Set graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81123)

CGC Trading Cards was established in mid-2020 to meet increasing demand for collectible card grading services. Since launching, its team of expert and passionate trading card graders have already certified many impressive collections and exciting rarities. At a Heritage Auction sale in January, a CGC-certified Test Print Blastoise Pokémon card realized $360,000. It is now tied for the highest price paid for any English Pokémon card at auction.

Other highlights in the auction include:

• A group of four cards from the 1999 German Pokémon Base Set: a 1^st Edition Pikachu 58/102 graded CGC 8.5, a 1^st Edition Charmander (46/102) graded CGC 7.5, a 1^st Edition Bulbasaur (44/102) graded CGC 8.5 and a 1^st Edition Squirtle (63/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81044)
• A Gyarados Holo from the 1999 Pokémon Unlimited Base Set (6/102) graded CGC 8.5 (lot 81062)
• A Raichu Holo from the 1999 Pokémon Unlimited Base Set (14/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81063)
• A Venusaur Holo from the 1999 Pokémon Unlimited Base Set (15/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81064)
• A Zapdos Holo from the 1999 Pokémon Unlimited Base Set (16/102) graded CGC 9.0 (lot 81065)

Related Links

• Test Print Blastoise Realizes $360,000 at Auction
• CGC Trading Cards Grading Scale