Another CGC-certified 'Ivy' Pikachu Sells for More Than $1 Million in a Private Sale

It's been a record-breaking month at CGC®, and strong sales continued in recent weeks with a second "Ivy" Pikachu that sold for more than $1 million. Now the sixth-highest selling CGC-certified card of any kind, the (1996) Japanese CoroCoro Comics Pikachu Glossy - Incorrect Illustrator graded CGC Gem Mint 10 was sold for an impressive $1.3 million in a private sale in August 2026.

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Recognized by the hobby as the first official Pokémon card to ever be released, the Ivy Pikachu is one of the most coveted and valuable cards in the TCG. The most recent Ivy Pikachu result now joins an elite list of at least eight CGC-certified cards to cross the million-dollar mark. Others include:

• a Pokémon "Ivy" Pikachu - Glossy, Marketing Variation graded CGC 8.5 that realized $3.3 million in a private sale in August 2026
• an Alpha Black Lotus graded CGC Pristine 10 that sold for $3 million in April 2024
• a Pokémon Illustrator graded CGC Gem Mint 10 that realized more than $2 million in a PokeColor auction in February 2026
• a Pokémon Illustrator graded CGC 9.5 that realized more than $1.7 million in a private sale in June 2026
• a 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner certified CGC Authentic - Restored that realized more than $1.33 million through Love of the Game Auctions in August 2026
• a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle - Type 1 graded CGC 8 that realized more than $1.25 million through SCP Auctions in December 2022
• a Rayquaza, Pokémon (2005) EX Deoxys – 107/107 Holo graded CGC Pristine 10 that realized $1.02 million through Fanatics Collect in August 2026

The early Pikachu that just sold for $1.3 million is one of five variants of the card. While the Marketing Variation of the Ivy Pikachu promo was photographed and showcased in the October 1996 issue of CoroCoro Comic, it was not the version of the card that was given away in the same issue of the magazine. That version, instead, is the Incorrect Illustrator variant of Ivy Pikachu. Instead of identifying Keiji Kinebuchi as Pikachu’s illustrator on this particular card, it mistakenly attributes the artwork to Ken Sugimori.

Comparing the differences in color between the Marketing Variation and the Incorrect Illustrator variant helps identify the correct Ivy Pikachu. In the Marketing Variation, Pikachu has a slightly green coloring, as opposed to the Incorrect Illustrator’s bright yellow. Also, there are no leaves underneath Pikachu's foot on the Incorrect Illustrator variant. In addition, Pikachu has been centered in the art box.

Learn more about this holy grail of Pokémon cards and find out more about all five Ivy Pikachu variants here.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games, and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for sports cards, TCGs, and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation, and more. CGC Home Video provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of videocassettes, DVD, Blu-ray, and more. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services.

CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.