Card Summary
Pros:
- Artwork: This card features artwork by illustrator Naoyo Kimura and is in the art style of Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat.
- Pokemon Popularity: Pikachu is essentially the face of Pokemon and one of, if not the most popular Pokemon in the franchise.
- Collectability: This card is in English only (at the time of writing) and was only available during a crossover event with the Pokemon and Van Gogh Museum in 2023 to celebrate the Van Gogh Museum’s 50th anniversary. It could only be received by either purchasing any “Pokemon Center x Van Gogh Museum” merchandise from the English Pokemon Center website or by participating in the “Pokemon Adventure” activity at the Van Gogh Museum. This card highly sought after by collectors due to it’s rarity and collaboration with the museum.
- Similar Cards: There is a set of cards that are inspired by The Scream by Edvard Munch, including Psyduck, Eevee, Pikachu, Mimikyu, and Rowlet. These cards have proved to be highly sought after by collectors so the Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat may follow a similar pattern.
Cons:
- Actual Power: This card is mostly not viable in the TCG. If you need to search for some other specific Pikachu card in your deck, this card could have some use, but in general it’s not really practical.
- Grading Issues: Like many valuable cards, grading can be tricky due to various reason. Finding one in mint condition for grading could be challenging but no common flaws have reported so far.
Overall:
Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat (also called Van Gogh Pikachu) was one of the most controversial and sought after cards at the end of 2023. Even though this was a free card that came with other purchases on the Pokemon Center website or through participating in the Museum’s activity, the card stock ran out and was unavailable within hours of availability. Many collectors were upset due to not being able to get this card because of how fast it went, even through multiple waves of availability. This Pikachu isn’t typically viable in the TCG but is a powerhouse when it comes to collectability.
If you would like to read more on the Grey Hat Pikachu and the Van Gogh event, you can check it out here.