DALLAS, TX.- Collectors always have been drawn to memorabilia from the first of anything, whether it’s a political battle, sporting event or perhaps a concert by a particular artist.

When viewed through that lens, a Pokémon No. 1 Trainer Tropical Mega Battle PSA Trading Card Game Mint 9 (The Pokémon Company, 1999) Holo, from the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle that is considered the first Pokémon TCG World Championship ever held, will be among the top attracions in Heritage’s March 21-22 Trading Card Games Signature® Auction amounts to the trading card games equivalent of a championship ring from the first Super Bowl.


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“This is an exceedingly important card for Pokémon collectors,” says Jesus Garcia, Trading Card Games Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions. “It is one of the most desirable cards in the entire Pokémon TCG hobby, because it was produced for the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle. Before the inception of the current version of the world championship, this tournament was held in Japan, limited to elemementary students as competitors.”

With artwork by Ken Sugimori and the logo by Hiromi Ito, his particular card was awarded to the winner of Japan’s Challenge Road 1999 Summer regional tournaments. Its text reads, “The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament’s champion is recognized here, and this honor is praised.” The offered card is the only example to earn a Mint 9 grade from PSA, with four graded higher.

A Pokémon Unlimited Jungle Set Uncut Sheet (Wizards of the Coast, 1999) Form J5 features the second expansion set of the Pokémon game and features Generation I Pokémon, with a focus on the Kanto Safari Zone. The 110 cards in the sheet include 55 copies of each of two individual cards: Kangaskhan 5 and Vaporeon 12, both of which are holographic rares.

A Pokémon Yoshiko Harada No. 1 Trainer World Summer Challenge Secret Super Battle-Best in Japan PSA Trading Card Game NM-MT 8 (The Pokémon Company, 2000) Holois the only certified copy to earn an NM-MT 8 grade from PSA — with non graded higher. The World Summer Challenge included eight regional tournaments in which players from Japan competed for entry into the Deciding Match. Each had a Junior Championship called Tropical Mega Battle and a Senior Championship called Secret Super Battle-Best in Japan; the winners of the Secret Super Battle competed in the World Challenge Secret Super Battle-Best in Japan Deciding Match. Unique prize cards were created to celebrate the No. 1, 2 and 3 Trainers, each featuring the picture of the young trainers. The card offered here features Harada, the No. 1 Trainer, surrounded by Chansey, Growlithe, Doduo, Voltorb, Marill and Pikachu.

A Pokémon Charizard 4 First Edition Base Set PSA Trading Card Game Gem Mint 10 (Wizards of the Coast, 1999) Rare, Holo, with artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita, is arguably the hottest card in the entire hobby, and the example offered here is one of just 124 to earn a Gem Mint 10 grade from PSA. Since being featured on the cover of Pocket Monsters: Red, one of two versions of the first released Pokémon games in Japan, Charizard’s popularity has exceeded that of all others, including the franchise mascot, Pikachu.

A special commemorative set known as the Pokémon Card Game 15th Anniversary Premium Set was released in 2011 to celebrate the Pokémon game’s 15th anniversary in Japan. The set included two promotional cards: Reshiram 055 from the Black Collection and Zekrom 055 from the White Collection. The Pokémon Card Game 15th Anniversary Premium Set Promos PSA Trading Card Game Gem Mint 10 (The Pokémon Company, 2011) With Original Boxoffered in this auction is extraordinary because both of the promotional cards have both been graded PSA Gem Mint 10.

A Pokémon Chansey 3 First Edition Base Set PSA Trading Card Game Gem Mint 10 (Wizards of the Coast, 1999) Rare, Holo is a magnificent example of a rarity — one of just 48 copies to earn a Gem Mint 10 grade — that features the Normal-type Pokémon, Chansey, who often is found working alongside Nurse Joy to heal the Pokémon who have been hurt in battle. This card is from the First Edition run of the Base Set and features artwork by Ken Sugimori.

The Pokémon Rumble Complete Set of 16 PSA Trading Card Game Mint 9 (The Pokémon Company, 2009)includes all 16 cards in the game — each of which carries a PSA Mint 9 grade. Included are Venusaur 1, Cherrim 2, Ninetales 3, Heatran 4, Starmie 5, Gyarados 6, Pikachu 7, Zapdos 8, Mewtwo 9, Mew 10, Diglett 11, Lucario 12, Skuntank 13, Bastiodon 14, Rattata 15 and Bibarel 16.



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