Not that I could ever afford to buy these, but, why don’t i see them popping up on eBay every now and again with huge price tags? I get that they are low pop, but i see a lot of other low pop cards up for sale…
Boy do I have a good read for you. Have a look at this thread made by our very own ProChaos.
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Each card only had 20 copies awarded in total. All were given to the winner that took the photos.
So if that *1* person decides to never sell their cards, or lost their cards years ago… that’s it. That card’s off the radar. Even if some of the original winners do still have their cards, it would be in their best interest to sell them off as slowly as possible (although the Poliwag winner did in fact sell them all at the same time a few years ago, which is why that card has a PSA pop of 11 whereas the other Snap cards have a pop between 0 and 4). More likely, most of these cards will just be out of reach forever.
Now, there is one additional method that Snap cards become available - the same one that applies to all of the rarest and oldest cards in the hobby - some “extra copies” or “file copies” were saved by “pkonno” - a high level Pokemon TCG employee (possibly 1 of the 4 creators of thee Pokemon TCG).
But yeah, Snap cards are just as rare as it gets.
In fact, according to the Master List, they are the lowest distribution of any cards in the entire hobby among cards with completely unique art (art not shared with any other card) - not including 1-of-1 cards that include the faces of the winning players.
Click here for more information about the Rarest Cards in the hobby.
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Is there any way to know how many copies of any given card PkOnno has (or how many “extra” copies there are generally)?
I really doubt it. From what I hear, that dude doesn’t really answer questions and he’s the only one with the answers.
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@7l7l , There is absolutely no way to know.
From what we know about how “files copies” are saved in similar situations with limited distribution items, I would say it’s more likely than not that he only has a handful of extras for each. But that’s just a guess.
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To add to eBulb’s point about winners holding on to their cards – there has never been a picture of a physical Snap Magikarp. Not just no sales, but not even a picture. For all we know they were destroyed in a tsunami a decade ago. They are the white fish (bad Moby dick white whale pun) of Magikarp or snap collectors.
I am hoping pkonno or someone in a similar situation may sell a copy publicly within my lifetime.
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The TMB and SSB trophies had lower distribution numbers
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This is so insane! I had no idea. Thanks for the info!
Yes, that’s true. But note that my comment was that the Snap cards have the lowest distribution numbers of any cards “with completely unique art.” The No. 1/2/3 SSB/TMB trophies were only 9 for each placement but the art for the 1/2/3 is almost identical (except for medals) meaning that there were 27 distributed cards that have the similar SSB art and 27 distributed cards that have the similar TMB art.
The Charmander one is on sale at YJ Auctions.
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Yes I know what you meant, but the TMB/SSB have completely unique art for each place, in my opinion anyways. They might be similar but I see them as unique artwork
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It’s fair and accurate to say that the unique colors of the medals make each placement artwork unique. But the artworks are not “completely” unique from one another (the term I used).
That’s why I said the Snap cards have the lowest distribution among cards with completely unique artwork.
It’s a pretty irrelevant argument anyway… with 9 of each placement and 27 total we’re talking about insane rarity either way.
I actually think the thing that makes Snap cards even more scarce than the distribution of 20 would suggest is just the fact that each was distributed to just 1 person. Which is what explains these numbers:
Total PSA graded population of all Super Secret Battle No. 1/2/3 Cards: 18
Total PSA graded population of all Tropical Mega Battle No. 1/2/3 Cards: 14
Total PSA graded population of all Snap cards (all 10 of them): 29 (would be 18 without Poliwag)
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That card looks mint. I guess I’ve been looking in the wrong places too
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Damn!
Mqwhite1982 on IG has a poliwag up for sale.
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I see he posted a picture of his Snap Poliwag a few days ago, but with no mention of it being for sale. Having said that if you told me he’s taking private offers for it that wouldn’t surprise me to hear (based on previous interactions with him).
It’s been sold
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