{"id":36686,"date":"2026-06-23T13:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T13:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gorillacardboard.com\/?p=36686"},"modified":"2026-06-26T02:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T02:17:19","slug":"one-of-the-most-fascinating-cards-in-pokemon-tcg-history-has-a-new-variant-the-japanese-ivy-pikachu-promo-dates-back-to-1996-released-just-5-days-before-the-official-pokemon-tcg-launch-in-one-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gorillacardboard.com\/?p=36686","title":{"rendered":"One of the most fascinating cards in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history has a new variant! The Japanese “Ivy” Pikachu promo dates back to 1996, released just 5 days before the official Pok\u00e9mon TCG launch in one of the earliest issues of CoroCoro Comic. It’s one of the very first Pok\u00e9mon cards ever made, and came in more versions than anyone realized. There are now 5 known variants, including a never-meant-to-be-released Marketing Variation spotted on promotional posters and magazine covers, to a Corrected Illustrator version with only 2,000 copies ever in circulation. One variant was even printed in English but exclusively released in Japan. Here’s how to tell which variant you have: \ud83d\udd0d \ud83c\udf43 Leaves: Leaf und"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One of the most fascinating cards in Pok\u00e9mon TCG history has a new variant!<\/p>\n

The Japanese “Ivy” Pikachu promo dates back to 1996, released just 5 days before the official Pok\u00e9mon TCG launch in one of the earliest issues of CoroCoro Comic. It’s one of the very first Pok\u00e9mon cards ever made, and came in more versions than anyone realized.<\/p>\n

There are now 5 known variants, including a never-meant-to-be-released Marketing Variation spotted on promotional posters and magazine covers, to a Corrected Illustrator version with only 2,000 copies ever in circulation. One variant was even printed in English but exclusively released in Japan.<\/p>\n

Here’s how to tell which variant you have: \ud83d\udd0d<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf43 Leaves: Leaf under Pikachu’s foot? Marketing Variation.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udfe1 Color: Greenish tint (vs. bright yellow)? Marketing Variation.<\/p>\n

\u2728 Gloss: Non-shiny surface? Rare “How to Play” variant.<\/p>\n

\u270d\ufe0f Illustrator: Says Ken Sugimori? Incorrect Illustrator variant.<\/p>\n

\u2014 @CGCCards Jun 23, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n