Pokémon Card Certified by CGC Trading Cards Realizes Six Figures 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.

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.

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.

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