Ultra-rare Test Print Blastoise Certified by CGC Trading Cards Exceeds $150,000 in Heritage Sale

A remarkable Pokémon-Magic hybrid certified by CGC Trading Cards® realized over $150,000 in a recent Heritage Auctions sale. Several very rare cards certified by CGC Trading Cards were part of the Trading Card Games Signature Auction, which took place on September 23-24, 2022.

The top card certified by CGC Trading Cards in the sale was a Blastoise Pokémon (1998) Test Print (Gold Border) #009/165R with Magic: The Gathering Back graded CGC 7.5 (lot 36070), which realized $162,000. While the front of the card features iconic artwork by Ken Sugimori and a rare gold border, the other side of the card features the unmistakable Magic: The Gathering back — an anomaly native to early prints of the Pokémon Trading Card Game from when Wizards of the Coast were developing English Pokémon cards in the 1990s. CGC Trading Cards has authenticated a mere five copies of these rare test prints.

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This is the second CGC Trading Cards-certified Blastoise Gold Border Test Print to go to auction. Heritage Auctions sold the first one in 2021 for $216,000; read more about it here.

Meanwhile, an extremely rare Euroakus, Magic: The Gathering (2020) Heroes of the Realm #001/003 Special - Studio X European Team graded CGC 9.5 (lot 36010) also generated an impressive result in the sale. This elusive card is one of only three promotional cards given out to the European Wizards of the Coast team in 2020.

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Additionally, two Magic: The Gathering (1992) Gamma Playtest cards saw excellent results, with each realizing over $15,000. A Time Walk graded CGC 7.5 (lot 36019) realized $24,000, while an Ancestral Memory graded CGC 5.5 (lot 36018) realized $15,600.

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Other CGC-certified highlights in the sale included:

• a Crash Card Virus #SJCS-EN004, Yu-Gi-Oh! (2007) Shonen Jump Championship Prize Card graded CGC 7 (lot 36024), which realized $15,600
• a Mox Emerald, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Unlimited Edition graded CGC 9 (lot 36009), which realized $6,300
• a Blastoise, Pokémon (1999) Base Set 1st Edition #2/102 Holo graded CGC 9 (lot 36072), which realized $3,840
• a Library of Alexandria, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Arabian Nights graded CGC 8.5 (lot 37010), which realized $2,220
• a Guardian Beast, Magic: The Gathering (1993) Arabian Nights graded CGC 9 (lot 37008), which realized $1,260

Related Articles:

• The Rarest and Most Expensive Pokémon Cards
• After Certification by CGC Trading Cards, Pokémon Test Print Blastoise Blasts to $360,000 at Auction
• CGC Trading Cards Certifies Four Extremely Rare Pokémon Test Print Blastoise Cards

All prices realized include a buyer's premium.