Earlier this month, on July 9, Heritage Auctions sold a Pokémon Super Secret Battle “No. 1 Trainer” Holographic Promo Card, graded PSA Gem Mint 10, for $90,000 (including the buyer’s premium). This is a Holy Grail TCG promo card that only a few collectors have been able to obtain. So few in fact, that there are only seven examples graded through PSA with six of the cards in PSA Gem-Mint 10 condition. Compare that to the 19 total graded of the famed Illustrator Pikachu.
According to Heritage Auctions there were seven regional tournaments in which the winners received this card and the location to a secret tournament. Hence the name: “Super Secret Battle.”
The card was designed by Hideki Kazam. It displays the outline of Mewtwo on the left filled in with a holographic shine. On the right is a Pokéball with the words “Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game surrounding it and “Super Secret Battle” below. The card reads “The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament’s champion is recognized here, and this honor is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle.”
Obtaining such a rare and valuable card would automatically make it a centerpiece in anyone’s collection. This is a historical piece on top of being a Holy Grail in the TCG hobby and not one you will find very often going up for auction.