Goldin Auctions has accelerated the opening of Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator auction by one week due to unprecedented global interest. The landmark sale, previously scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026, will now begin Jan. 5, 2026 at 8pm ET. The auction features Paul’s PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator—the only example to achieve perfect grading—which he purchased for $5.275 million in July 2021.
“This is the biggest Pokémon and trading card game auction ever held, and the unbelievable amount of interest we’ve already received led us to open early” — Ken Goldin, CEO of Goldin Auctions
The decision to expedite the timeline signals extraordinary demand for what Goldin is positioning as a landmark event for the entire trading card game hobby, with the Pikachu Illustrator serving as the centerpiece of a 300-plus lot auction. Logan Paul has promised to personally hand-deliver the card to the winning bidder, telling collectors he will “share the whole backstory, and create a moment that will live with them forever.”
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Beyond the Illustrator: 300+ Lots of TCG History
While the Pikachu Illustrator dominates headlines, Goldin has assembled a supporting cast of rarities that extends far beyond Paul’s grail card. The auction features a factory-sealed 1999 Base Set first edition Pokémon Booster Box. Artist-signed pieces include a 1997-98 Japanese second Tournament Trophy Pikachu, hand-signed and sketched by renowned Pokémon illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita and previously featured in Netflix’s King of Collectibles. Collectors chasing complete sets can bid on the 2014 Pokémon World Championships Pikachu Trophy Collection, which includes all four cards from the series including a Pop 1 pristine example. Logan’s own 1999 Base Set first edition Holo Charizard will also be up for auction.
Ken Sugimori’s signed and framed “Dawn” original artwork, accompanied by materials from Pokémon’s 10th Anniversary event in New York, represents a rare opportunity to own production art from one of the franchise’s principal designers. The auction crosses into Magic: The Gathering territory with a 1993 Beta Black Lotus and the 2025 Final Fantasy “Traveling Chocobo” Gold Serialized Card. Sealed vintage gaming gets representation through factory-sealed copies of Pokémon Red Version and Silver Version, while the November 1999 TIME Magazine cover featuring Charizard and Pikachu rounds out the pop culture offerings.
A Landmark Sale for Pokemon TCG
The most recent market comparable came in Sept. 2025, when a PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator sold for $4 million. Paul’s PSA 10 represents the first time the highest-graded example has reached public auction, creating a genuine price discovery event. Paul accepted a $2.5 million advance from Goldin plus a percentage of the entire auction’s proceeds, a deal negotiated on camera for season three of King of Collectibles. The timing coincides with Pokémon’s 30th anniversary in 2026, which industry observers expect to drive significant collector activity.
Related—Logan Paul sells record-breaking Pokémon card after $5.3M purchase
Goldin is positioning the sale as a watershed moment for trading card games beyond just Pokémon, citing the card’s “mainstream awareness” and ability to draw “international interest” as evidence the hobby has reached new cultural heights. Bidding opens Jan. 5 at 8pm ET, with extended bidding beginning Feb. 15 at 10pm ET. Season three of King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch, which chronicles the card’s journey to auction, is currently streaming on Netflix.
