Pokémon Card Certified by CGC Trading Cards Realizes $216,000 in July Sale

An extremely rare Pokémon test print Blastoise card, which was certified by the Trading Cards division of Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®), has realized $216,000. It was one of the top performers in Heritage Auctions’ Trading Card Games Auction #7260, which ended July 25, 2021.

Blastoise #009/165R Test Print (Gold Border) Foil with Magic: The Gathering Back from the 1998 Pokémon Set graded CGC 6.5. Realized $216,000. Click image to enlarge.

The card, which was among the first attempts by Wizards of the Coast (WotC) to create English Pokémon cards, features art that was used on a Japanese promo card and on the box and cartridge of the popular Gameboy game, Pokémon Blue. The Blastoise #009/165R Test Print (Gold Border) Foil MTG Back from the 1998 Pokémon Set graded CGC 6.5 (lot 36124) ranks as the fourth-most expensive individual Pokémon card that Heritage Auctions has sold.

Another fascinating and rare card certified by CGC Trading Cards in the sale was a Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Time Walk. The card, a precursor to a card in the coveted "Power 9," was developed as part of a set of test cards that were used to work out the logic and rules of the Magic: The Gathering game in its current form. This Time Walk card, graded CGC 8.5 (lot 36065), realized $26,400.  

Time Walk from the Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition graded CGC 8.5. Realized $26,400. Click images to enlarge.

Other CGC Trading Cards-certified Pokémon cards in the auction included:

• a Pokémon (1999) Base Set - First Edition Complete Trading Card Set graded CGC 7 to CGC 9.5 (lot 36156) that realized $40,800
• a Pokémon (2000) Neo Genesis - First Edition Complete Trading Card Set graded by CGC (lot 36162) that realized $10,800
• a Pokémon (2000) Gym Challenge - First Edition Complete Trading Card Set graded by CGC (lot 36161) that realized $5,160
• a Pokémon (2000) Team Rocket - First Edition Complete Trading Card Set graded by CGC (lot 36159) that realized $4,800
• a Pokémon (2000) Gym Heroes - First Edition Complete Trading Card Set graded by CGC (lot 36160) that realized $3,960

Other CGC Trading Cards-certified Magic: The Gathering cards in the auction included:

• a Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition Lightning Bolt graded CGC 7 (lot 36060) that realized $6,300
• a Magic: The Gathering 1993 Unlimited Edition Timetwister graded CGC 6.5 (lot 37085) that realized $5,040
• a Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition Fireball graded CGC 7 (lot 36050) that realized $4,560
• a Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition Fear graded CGC 6 (lot 36048) that realized $4,440
• a Magic: The Gathering 1992 Gamma Playtest Edition Jump graded CGC 7 (lot 36059) that realized $3,840

Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards represent a rapidly growing segment of the collectibles market. To meet collector demand for expert and impartial authentication and grading services, CGC Trading Cards was established in mid-2020 by Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®), the world-leading comic book certification service.

To learn more about career opportunities with CGC Trading Cards, click here.

Related Links

• Fascinating Magic: The Gathering Gamma Playtest Cards Certified by CGC Trading Cards in Upcoming Auction
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• CGC Trading Cards Certifies Four Extremely Rare Pokémon Test Print Blastoise Cards
• After Certification by CGC Trading Cards, Pokémon Test Print Blastoise Blasts to $360,000 at Auction
• CGC Trading Cards Goes Back in Time to the Very Beginning of Magic