The Facts
On October 8, 2026, French auction house Aguttes announced the private sale of a Torchic Gold Star PSA 10 Pokémon card from the EX Team Rocket Returns expansion. The card, released in Japan on October 15, 2004, and in the US on November 8, 2004, is among the rarest in the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Only 19 copies have received the highest PSA 10 grade, and this particular card was the first to achieve that rating. The card features artwork by Masakazu Fukuda and is one of the first Gold Star cards, a subset known for its holographic design and rarity. The sale was conducted privately, matching the seller with identified collectors.
The Signal
The transaction underscores the rapidly growing market for high-grade vintage Pokémon cards, where condition and provenance drive value. Aguttes' Collectible Cards department, which sold €552,000 in July, is positioning itself as a key player in this niche, offering both auction and private sale strategies for rare TCG items. For collectors, the sale of a first-to-grade PSA 10 Torchic Gold Star highlights the premium placed on historical significance within the grading population.
- Artists: Masakazu Fukuda
- People: Masakazu Fukuda
- Auction Houses: Aguttes
- Locations: Paris
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