Pokémon Illustrator Signed by Takumi Akabane Realizes More than $200,000 in Fanatics Collect Auction
Posted on 1/9/2025
A Pokémon Illustrator signed by Takumi Akabane broke the record for the highest-selling CGC-certified card on Fanatics Collect in the platform’s December Premier Auction. It was just one of the thousands of CGC-certified TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards that were sold through Fanatics Collect in December 2024.
The Pokémon Illustrator, Pokémon (1998) Japanese CoroCoro Comics Illustration Contest promo graded CGC 9 and certified by CGC Signature Series as signed by Takumi Akabane realized $204,000 in Fanatics Collect’s Premier Auction on December 19. Pokémon Illustrator is already the rarest and most expensive Pokémon card, but an example signed by Akabane — one of the developers of the Pokémon TCG — is a true holy grail.
Additionally, a Charizard, Pokémon (1996) Japanese Delta Playtest graded CGC 9 realized $19,200 on December 29. The Delta Playtest phase of the Pokémon TCG’s development was the final playtest before the cards were shown off to the public. This Charizard features the same iconic Mitsuhiro Arita artwork that appears on the final Base Set card, but it lacks the holographic layer and other details.
Meanwhile, hundreds of CGC-certified sports cards were sold through Fanatics Collect in December as well, with the top highlight being a one-of-a-kind rookie card of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark. A 2024 Panini Select WNBA Draft Selections Signatures #DSS-CC Caitlin Clark - Black Finite certified CGC Authentic realized $52,800 on December 1. Clark has taken the basketball world by storm the last few seasons, becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball and bringing more attention to the WNBA than ever before during her first pro season. Along with the notoriety, the Indiana Fever star's collectibles have become highly coveted, leading to some of the highest prices ever paid for any female athlete's collectibles.
Another sports highlight from December's Fanatics Collect sales was a rare patch autograph card of arguably the greatest player in NBA history: Michael Jordan. A 2006-07 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Emblems of Endorsements #EM-MJ Michael Jordan certified CGC Authentic realized $24,000 on December 15. Serial-numbered to only 15 copies made, this rare card features a large jersey patch showing the iconic red, black and white uniform of the Chicago Bulls, where Jordan spent most of his pro career. Add an on-card signature in bold blue ink and it's no surprise the collectible sold for five figures.
Other recent TCG and non-sports card sales highlights included:
- a No. 2 Trainer, Pokémon (2000) Japanese World Challenge Summer Super Secret Battle Finals – 2nd Place Promo graded CGC 8.5 that realized $13,200 on December 15
- a Gyarados, Pokémon (1999) Base Set 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Pristine 10 that realized $11,700 on December 15
- a Charizard, Pokémon (1996) Japanese Base Set Holo – No Rarity Symbol graded CGC 9 that realized $10,200 on December 15
- a Mewtwo, Pokémon (1996) Japanese Beta Presentation graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $7,200 on December 19
- a Poncho-Wearing Pikachu, Pokémon (2016) Japanese XY & XY BREAK Promo – 208/XY-P M Charizard Y Poncho-Wearing Pikachu graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized $5,500
Other recent sports card sales highlights included:
- a 2022-23 Topps Dynasty UEFA CC Autograph Patches #AP-LM7 Lionel Messi - Black certified CGC Authentic that realized $9,300 on December 8
- a 2024 Topps Gilded Collection Gold Storm #GS-3 Paul Skenes - SuperFractor certified CGC Authentic that realized $6,900 on December 22
- a 2022 Panini National Treasures Rookie Patch Autographs #200 Brock Purdy - Stars & Stripes Blue certified CGC Authentic that realized $5,160 on December 8
- a 2017-18 Panini Kobe Eminence Double Diamond Autographs #21 Kobe Bryant certified CGC Authentic that realized $4,920 on December 15
- a 2017-18 Panini Kobe Eminence Double Diamond Autographs #33 Kobe Bryant certified CGC Authentic that realized $4,800 on December 15
Notable Upcoming Fanatics Collect Sales
Fanatics Collect continues to offer CGC-certified cards in their weekly, fixed and premium auction formats. One of the highlights available in January is a Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat, Pokémon (2023) Black Star Promos – 085 Pokémon x Van Gogh graded CGC 9. Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s iconic “Self Portrait” painting, this Pikachu promo has become one of the more sought-after Black Star promos in the Pokémon TCG. It was part of a showcase and merchandise campaign conducted in a collaboration by The Pokémon Company and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, which was meant to introduce new audiences to the work of Vincent van Gogh. To learn more about the Pikachu promo and its significance, click here.
Other TCG and non-sports cards in the upcoming January auctions include:
- a Charizard, Pokémon (2000) Legendary Collection Reverse Holo graded CGC 8
- a Lugia V, Pokémon (2022) Silver Tempest Ultra Rare Holo graded CGC Pristine 10
- a Snorlax, Pokémon (1999) Jungle 1st Edition Holo graded CGC Gem Mint 10
- a Pikachu ex, Pokémon (2024) Surging Sparks Special Illustration Rare graded CGC Gem Mint 10
- a Swamp (Blue Tint), Magic: The Gathering (1993) Limited Edition Alpha graded CGC Gem Mint 10
Other sports cards in the upcoming January auctions include:
- a 2018 Leaf National Convention #Rookie-05 Shohei Ohtani - Purple certified CGC Authentic
- a 2020-21 Upper Deck Fluorescence #F-KK Kirill Kaprizov - Green graded CGC Gem Mint 10
- a 2023-24 Topps Finest UEFA Euro #63 Cristiano Ronaldo - Rose Gold Mini-Diamond Refractor graded CGC Pristine 10
- a 2024 Topps Gold Label UFC Ranked Ink Autographs #RIK-MHO Max Holloway - Blue certified CGC Authentic
- a 2024 Panini Origins WNBA Origin Stories #14 A'ja Wilson - Gold certified CGC Authentic
Sell Your CGC-certified Cards on Fanatics Collect!
In July 2024, PWCC Marketplace became Fanatics Collect — a new collectibles marketplace that connects dealers and collectors through fixed-price listings, auctions and a myriad of tools and features, all in one app. CGC Cards and Fanatics Collect remain partners and will continue to provide a streamlined pathway to grading and selling. The grading and selling program is still accessed via an online submission process through Fanatics Collect's website, and everything is still managed through the Fanatics Collect vault. For more information about Fanatics Collect, click here.
Cards sent to CGC receive priority grading and encapsulation through its third-party grading service for sports cards. Graded cards are returned to Fanatics Collect and immediately added to their Auction Builder Curation Algorithm process, which optimizes cards for sale in upcoming Fanatics Collect Weekly Sunday Auctions.
For more information about this program, click here.
Prices realized include buyer’s premium.
Note: At the time some of these cards were graded, they were encapsulated with the original CGC Cards label. Starting July 11, 2023, CGC Cards began encapsulating cards with the new CGC Cards label. In addition to the new label, collectors enjoy many other benefits with CGC Cards, such as the ability to submit without purchasing a membership and an industry-standard Gem Mint 10 grading scale. For more information, go here.
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