After a long series of unfortunate events, I decided to to simply collect only 2 types of cards from now on.
1. 1997 Corocoro Surfing Pikachu Japanese Promo 2. 1997 Surfing Pikachu JR East Stamp Rally Japanese Promo
#1 is “special” to me in a sense that it was the first card I admired in the English 2001 variant when I got back into Pokemon as an adult.
#2 Is just cool but I know can be quite rare at times.
The beginning: I have scowered the internet for the cleanest raw copies I can find to eventually be graded, if we deem them worthy enough. I found 3x of the 2 types bought them. I bought a printer/scanner, because oh lordie I needed one.
Starting within the next few weeks as they come in from Japan or wherever else in the world they’re shipped from, I will scan them with a colored back drop, as to be able to see whitening easier or imperfections on edges of the cards. (Most grading companies will not accept a grade of a 10 for a card if it has whitening on it).
I ask ahead of time, now, that you be the judge and help me find what you believe to be a “10 grade” for PSA. As they both go for about 5-8 grand in a grade of a PSA 10. If they are not worthy then I will hang onto them for as long as possible until POP dwindles, or stock becomes scarce. Mainly though, I just want an awesome binder full of Surfing Pikachu’s.
I even bought some " surfing pikachu grand wave and friends-exclusive sleeves" for this along with a toploader binder. 9x9.
Anywho, I am now only a double surfing pikachu collector in a sense.
I will update this thread with scans so you can deem them 10 worthy or not. Thank you
Sounds like a fun journey and challenge! I think the odds will be against you with the grading with only a few copies of each card, but nonetheless I’m excited to follow along and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it either way!
Thank you as time goes on I will have many scans in this thread of multiple copies of each. But buying the printer, sleeves, binder, and rebuilding pc cost a bit so I’m taking it slow. Eventually over the years I hope to collect as many of these 2 cards as I possibly can.
I really like the idea of collecting only the cards you’re most attached to. There’s something soothing and calming about focusing on just a few cards and, in doing so, selecting the ones that are truly beautiful or have a story to tell.
I’m excited to see your first scans, and maybe even your first graded copies! To me, there’s something magical about preserving a card you’ve discovered somewhere online. Happy collecting!
Thank you for your inspiring and kind comment, along with others’ and their interest in this. Below I’ve attached the first batch of cards I picked along with those neat sleeves i mentioned. I’ll be using a D Dackitt zipped vault style vinyl 9x9 top loader binder to keep these safe. Years down the line if i lose this binder i will be pissed. Cause it’ll have at least 50-100 surfing pikachu’s likely. I also will be keeping meticulous care of them, cleaning once both sides before sleeving, and sealing the toploaders with painters tape. Once in the toploader and sealed, I also have transparent card sized “clear sticky notes” that i place over the toploader to prevent some UV damage along with labeling each card before they eventually become PSA’d. I’ve been around cards before as you can tell likely, but this time it’s different. It’s personal.
I really am inspired by you level of care and enthusiasm for this artwork. It is very awesome to see you describe your entire plan and process of storing and/or grading these cards. Looking forward to see your updates on these. I wish you all the success in your endeavor and may the grading gods be always in your favour.
Will keep an eye for any good looking cards that I may come across.
Thanks guys, with patience, money, and curator-ship I can hopefully come across a few 10’s. Not to mention, your guys help!
If we look at the PSA POP report on this card. A majority of the cards are graded highly into the 8’s and 9’s during this time. But 10’s? A Meager 15 for #1, 30 for #2. Let the hunt begin.
I’m really excited to receive this copy as it’s likely to be one of the better ones. A bit hard to tell whitening from differentiated “post-peel fluff”. I gotta say this is at least a 7-8 i would imagine.
Ya hard to tell from some of these pictures if its peel fluff or an angled gloss shine or a reflection but some are apparant knicks and whitening. But i guess its all part of the challenge >:]
The first one arrived today, it happened to be a Fuji, I just plugged in the scanner today it seems to work fine but I may need to clean the glass for small imperfections that may effect the cards appeal. (Dog hair or a piece of fuzz or whatever etc) Anyways this is the test run, I scan front and back, then snippit each side onto paint and that’s it. Pretty easy in case anyone is trying to do it. More scans to come over the days, weeks, months, years. Just drop a heart if you think it’s grade worthy near a 10. Thanks! (I will show you how I label them all and store them sealed in the binder soon once I receive my new card sleeves in mail in about 2 days.)
I wanted to include this update to show people tips, tools, and tricks I’m using to curate this particular collection. I have had some of these in the past, and have some now, but the project is starting to come together in terms of the whole. Enjoy!
(I sleeve my cards like this because my binder is double sided on each page, so to reduce friction and tightness over the cards as not to interrupt the glossy finish on surfing pikachu)
EDIT: AS PSA IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT GRADES THIS CARD THUS FAR, I WILL NOT BE DOING ANY OF THE BELOW FOR CARD CLEANING AS IT WOULD DISQUALIFY THE CARD AND BE LABELED AS AN N7 CLEANED CARD.
NOTE: I HAVE INFACT CLEANED A CARD BEFORE AND RECEIVED BACK FULLY GRADED BUT I WILL NOT BE TAKING THAT RISK TO DAMAGE OR DISQUALIFY HERE.
