Citrina's Piplup Line* Collection: Storytime + a special new addition

[citriina]

A few things to update on this time around that I’m super excited about, so let’s get right into it!

First, 1st edition EBB reverses of both Piplup and Prinplup- these are a bit tricky to find, even on the online Japanese marketplaces I check regularly, but I was able to get lucky with eBay for both of these.

This also means that I’m done with Japanese EBB! For the slots remaining, I’m missing the Korean variants, two of which are already on their way to me.

This also means that I’m only missing 4 more Japanese cards within my collection scope!

This next package is from the lovely @queendrifloon - thank you again for middlemanning the Polish reverse Empoleon and also for the other treats in this one!

For those unaware, I also have a side collection of Maushold/Tandemaus, 100% complete in English at the time of writing, and I especially love the little peripheral bits that pop up on occasion. I’ve restricted myself to English only for them for now, but non-TCG is really how I love to collect the mice especially.

Next, I just received this beautiful Polish reverse Prinplup. Thank you again to @Fusion for middlemanning for me from a Polish marketplace!

This means I’m at 6/9 Polish cards now, with only 3 more to track down.

All in all, this has been a productive few weeks in terms of difficult to find cards, and I could not be happier with the new additions. Thanks for reading, and happy collecting everyone!

[queendrifloon]

Always happy to help! We gen 4 fans have to stick together

[Quuador]

Those binder pages look great. Love how the Water Energies clearly show which are still to be replaced, while at the same time keeping things pleasing to look at as a whole.

And happy to help indirectly with that Polish RH Empoleon I guess, since I’m Tori’s (QueenDrifloon) EU middleman. The quality may be rough, but specific Polish RH cards are a pain to find. I hope you’ll be able to find the missing three Polish cards soon as well to complete that language.

Greetz,
Quuador

[doomrai]

[joponnes]

I find it funny that you had troubles finding the EBB 1st ed reverses as i had an experience that mercari was filled with 1st ed EBBs while unlimited ones were nowhere to be found but great additions and as @quuador pointed out the energy cards make a great replacement for missing cards while still keeping the eye appeal good

[citriina]

@Quuador

Those binder pages look great. Love how the Water Energies clearly show which are still to be replaced, while at the same time keeping things pleasing to look at as a whole.

Thank you so much! I actually have sleeves in the first half of the binder as placeholders, but I ran out of sleeves partway through, so the water energies work just fine. I’m not a big fan of leaving spots completely empty, personally.

@Quuador

And happy to help indirectly with that Polish RH Empoleon I guess, since I’m Tori’s (QueenDrifloon) EU middleman. The quality may be rough, but specific Polish RH cards are a pain to find. I hope you’ll be able to find the missing three Polish cards soon as well to complete that language

Yes, thank you as well! It’s clearly been well-loved, but I’m just happy to have one- I can always upgrade in condition later on. The toughest to find will likely be the reverse Super Scoop Up, since the Empoleon LV. X and Piplup reverse are both starters and are more likely to get listed anywhere than a trainer card. Hopefully soon!

@joponnes

I find it funny that you had troubles finding the EBB 1st ed reverses as i had an experience that mercari was filled with 1st ed EBBs while unlimited ones were nowhere to be found but great additions and as @quuador pointed out the energy cards make a great replacement for missing cards while still keeping the eye appeal good

That’s so interesting about the 1st ed reverses! I was able to pick up the unlimited ones a while back, and they weren’t necessarily plentiful at the time, but I don’t remember them being too difficult either!

[TorterraSimp]

That pokemon center postcard is so nice

[citriina]

I’m assuming you meant this- is actually a notebook!

I absolutely love this art on this one, it’s so cute!

[TorterraSimp]

Oh whoops haha, yea I meant the notebook. That artwork is just too clean

[citriina]

I’ve been hunting this card in person for several months in order to be able make a trade toward it, as opposed to buying it outright, and today was the lucky day!

Before we get into it, a little bit of context first: I met a person at locals last year, he complimented my Empoleon playmat, and we got to chatting about our favorite Pokemon. I mentioned my favorite was Piplup, and his was too!

He had recently started his own Piplup collection, and I asked if he wanted to see my spreadsheet, to which his response was “Wait, are you the Citrina??” He then proceeds to pull up my spreadsheet on his phone to show me, explaining that he’d been using my sheet as a framework for his own collection.

I was completely gobsmacked. Genuinely, this story sounds so fake every time I tell it, but I swear (and my wife is a witness). He asked for a photo with me, we chatted some more, and went on our ways.

Fast forward to today, my partner and I went to a local card show, and he was vending there! He recognized me immediately, we had a lovely chat, and my wife saw this beauty in the case: the Blastoise & Piplup GX alt art in Japanese, one of 3 set cards I was still missing from my collection.

We were able to work out a trade, and a few minutes later, it was all mine! I couldn’t have thought of a better person to purchase it from, and I’m so happy to add this card to the binder.

In all, I’m now only missing 3 Japanese cards from my collection goals: XY8 Unlimited Empoleon, Empoleon V alt art, and the Captain Pikachu jumbo.

Every time I add a card to the binder and a story to go with it, I think about just how far this little collection has come, and I’m so happy and grateful for everyone who has helped me along on this journey.

Happy collecting everyone!

[joponnes]

You can’t spell spreadsheet without citriina anymore!

[mrbubbles]

Absolutely wholesome update. I really like these interactions within the hobby so much. These are really amazing stories to be able to share about your personal collecting journey. Really happy that your work is getting the recognition it deserves.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers!

[citriina]

@joponnes

You can’t spell spreadsheet without citriina anymore!

Haha, that really means a lot! I put a ton of work into my sheets, and it always makes me so happy when someone mentions they’re using it or my guide to make their own. I’m genuinely so honored.

@mrbubbles

Absolutely wholesome update. I really like these interactions within the hobby so much. These are really amazing stories to be able to share about your personal collecting journey. Really happy that your work is getting the recognition it deserves.

Aww, thank you so much, that means a ton. Pokemon really does come full circle, and the collecting sphere seems to be such a small world. I know there are a lot of bad actors everywhere, but maybe sharing the wholesome and joyful moments too will lead to more genuine interactions between all of us.