CoroCoro Illustration Contest Question

General
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I’m looking for more information regarding the Poliwrath, Snorlax & Mr. Mime cards from the “Pokémon Card Game Illust Artist Contest”

Bulbapedia article quotes

  • “The first illustration contest was publicized in the November 1997 issue of CoroCoro Comic, released on October 15, 1997 and invited readers to draw and submit their favorite Pokémon. The winning entries were announced in the January 1998 issue of CoroCoro Comic, released in December 1997. Three entrants received the Best Award, each of them receiving 20 copies of a Pokémon trading card featuring their illustration and a special Pokémon Illustrator promotional card. These cards were subsequently printed as part of Extended Sheet 1, available in special vending machines from March 23, 1998. 20 entrants were also selected for the Excellence Award, all of them receiving the Pokémon Illustrator promotional card. 100 entrants received the Special Award, each of them receiving a 1998 Pokémon Original Calendar.”

It mentions that three entrants illustrations were printed as part of Extended Sheet 1 (vending series) released March 23 1998. It doesn’t mention that these three cards were also re-printed later within the Quick Starter Gift Set (Red/Green Gift Set) released December 4 1998.

I’ve noticed that the ‘original’ first released versions within Vending series 1, all the cards from this set have a rarity symbol and the illustrators name, like a typical card should be. However, on the ‘re-prints’ within the Gift Set all three winning illustrations have no rarity symbol and additional Japanese text beside the illustrators name. Also all other cards in this set have a rarity symbol and no additional text. These cards with no rarity symbol and additional text look primarily more like promo cards.

These cards were altered after Vending Series 1 to go into the Gift Set. Do you think they were supposed to look like the altered versions in the first place to go into Vending Series 1? Do you think these cards are a slight printing/typing error? Do you think the winning entrants received their cards with or without the rarity symbol and additional text?

I’d love to know if anyone can provide facts or more information on this. Has anyone noticed this before? Maybe I’ve overlooked something!

Thank you in advance.

*edit: Even the three illustrated cards shown on Bulbapedia are the cards with no rarity symbol and additional texts so actually the re-prints. Shouldn’t they be using the illustrations from Vending Series 1?

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Someone can find it or correct me but I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the Mr. Mime illustrator winner post a picture of her winning Mr.Mime copy (and the Pikachu Illustrator card) on twitter and the Mime is indistinguishable from either the vending series or quickstarter gift set release (don’t remember which one but my gut says quickstarter)

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If i recall correctly its the quick starter deck!

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Thank you, that would clear up what version of the cards the winners received. If someone can find that picture anyway, I’ll be on the hunt.

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@ptccards, If it is the Gift Set cards, they had a unique promo for 8 months until it got re-printed. I would be gutted! All value lost.

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Aetsen is typing…

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The difference from the Quick starter gift set is the inking.
The first 20 copies have the same printing.
If you give to PSA those 20 original copies + 1 fake (from QSGS), PSA should find the intruder.
I would be happy if a PSA grader confirm it here…