I have learned one thing on this forum: facts first. So, I have to agree with Gary… In my opinion an article on a forum is not evident enough to be accepted as “documentation” for the existence of a card.
Even if there is a PR raichu, how are you going to determine if the stamp was added by the company or someone else afterwards? Apart from that, to me a stamp on a card doesnt transform the card into a card worth thousands of $. But that’s just my personal opinion of course 
Unique artwork all the way
I don’t know much about these elusive cards, and I usually need facts to sway me a certain way. However in this case I’d like to think it’s a real thing, or a myth if you will.
Just the story behind it I find fascinating and entertaining.
Isn’t that why we all collect and are in a community in the first place? To be fascinated by a certain cards history and story and to enjoy collecting. Everyone is entitled to an opinion of course, but I don’t believe there’s a need for a serious debate about if a cards real or not.
Believe what you like until proven other wise. Until then we all need to chill and enjoy those Christmas beers.
Happy holidays all
At the end of the day, let’s keep this in mind:
We’re talking about a card, a piece of flimsy cardboard with art on it.
Let’s not break friendships over it.
Yes, all of the belief behind this card: every fact, every figure and every notion comes from the PokeGym article.
I have nothing to gain from belief in the legitimacy of the card. Certainly not as much as someone desperately trying to purchase one might have to gain from talking down the legitimacy of the card. 
But you have a warped perception of what is going on here and where the information is coming from if you think that the conspiratorial perspective is saying it’s real. The depth of misinformation is laughable at best, sad at worst.
I’ve had my say though. I don’t intend to participate in a conversation I consider fruitless further.
Amen mate!
I feel like I should weigh in here on all this shit-throwing, even if I’m not too knowledgeable about the card. First off, whether it exists or not is a very arbitrary question. There’s evidence it exists, and some pretty solid evidence that it doesn’t. As is always, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. It was probably accidentally manufactured at one point and then the copies were lost. Hence the reluctance of those who reportedly “have” the card to share photos. The ones on pokegym, in my opinion, are most likely the only ones the “owner” has. Even with so few copies ever reportedly manufactured, I find it hard to believe that collectors are being secretive about its existence and such. In my opinion, the burden of proof that this card is still in existence is on those who may possess it. If you have one, come forward, let it be verified, and put this to bed once and for all.
I personally value japanese trophy cards with unique artwork over english cards such as the PreRaichu. I had opportunities to purchase the raichu, but passed as it is not my top priority.
With that said, I still have to defend its existence based on merit. Of course it doesn’t have a set release, neither does the cigar hitmonchan, and loads of other english promo/mistake cards. The facts are that Mike Boozer and multiple other WOTC employee’s have confirmed the existence of the card. Whether or not people want to accept this fact is up to them, but it is still a fact.
If we are not listening to WOTC employee’s about a cards existence, who is a better authority on the card? More specifically, people complain about how pokemon companies do not release information or create comprehensive guides for cards, and then when they take the time to confirm a cards existence, it still is not good enough…
I understand if someone is uneasy about how to determine a possible preraichu’s authenticity, it is troublesome. However, that does not mean legitimate copies do not exist.
Exactly. If Mike Boozer said the card is real, why would we doubt him?
Is there something about this guy that leads people to believe he was pulling our legs?
I wouldn’t doubt him.
I’ve just never seen him say it, that’s all.
Edit: Have any of you? Because if anyone on this forum has, I will stick my foot so far into my mouth I’ll be walking again except with a limp.
My only issue is that’s it’s been heresay. That’s seriously my only issue. 
Edit2: I would also like to add, that I’m not doubting the possibility of this card existing. I am not saying that. That’s where I diverge on the topic. I believe there is a possibility of its existence. I WANT it to exist.
So after coming up empty handed for a few hours now trying to see if anything from an official resource mentioned anything, to looking up Mike Boozer, and looking for original sources dating back in the early 2000’s, I got frustrated and re-read the topic.
Someone mentioned Rusty (@thecharizardauthorty) so I decided to see if he said anything about it. That’s when I stumbled across this video.
I’ll be officially walking with a limp now with my foot in my mouth.
It’s still technically heresay, but Rusty has probably been one of the most consistent sources and direct links to WOTC and TCG officials out of the entire collective universe in terms of Pokemon cards. Also, as someone who is incredibly well known throughout collectors everywhere and is probably the most outspoken and public media-focused collector. He has a reputation. One that is not worth risking by casually saying he spoke to a direct and official employee.
I apologize to the others prior, but I hope you understand why I was so skeptical.
Mike Boozer was the one who explained the cards origin in this article. It has also been verified by other ex WOTC employee’s.
I personally sat down with an ex WOTC employee and current Nintendo employee in 2011 and they explained the cards origin just as Boozer did in the article. I really don’t know why we keep having to explain and reiterate that WOTC employee’s have verified the cards existence.
Global warming is an absolute farce that the environmentalists push to keep their grant and research money flowing in. It keeps authors and lecturers who spew that crap in the chips.
The earth is nearly 5 Billion years old and if anything were to end it in the next couple billion years it won’t be global warming.
And monkey: I’ll bet the earth will end due to global warming before a truly authentic Prerelease raichu pops up.
If anybody had an authentic pre raichu there’s no reason in the world to hide it.
WOTC couldn’t care less today about anything Pokemon or promises made 15 years ago. The mythical owner or multiple owners would have just produced it over the last decade and a half.
Why haven’t they? Cause they want to keep the myth alive and don’t want to be embarrased by the fact they’ve deceived people for so many years.
The difference with the Square Cut No Stage Blastoise is that there is one on ebay right now for all to see. I’ve had PSAs premiere Autograph expert inspect the card too with his equipment. Plus I’ve had numerous high end collectors like Tacoma Jay, ebirdman, Reuben, Ota and several others come out here and inspect the card. It is irrefutably authentic.
Now how many of our UPCCC members have actually seen a pre raichu in person? How many of our members have seen a legitimate one listed for sale in all these years? Zero and Zero. Not a single member here has ever heard anything but stories from highly questionable sources (yes, HIGHLY questionable) who can deliver nothing more than words.
Getting info from ex WOTC flunkies is hardly proof of anything. They have nothing else to do but boast about the existence of Aliens here in Area 51.
Rusty has never seen one. Boozer has never seen a legit one. POkePop has never seen a legit one. Monkey has never seen one. Scott has never seen one, Glenn has never seen one. I’ve never seen a legit one. You’ve never seen one.
ITS ALL POPPYCOCK.
The bottom line is:
IF THEY EXIST WHERE THE #%+*^ are they? Even one???
Well since Bags confirmed it, I’ll relent;)
I have seen one. David Persin owns the documented copy. Also, the guy I sat down with who was a WOTC employee still works for Nintendo. He is hardly a “flunky”. In fact he has an MBA and a PhD. But don’t let reality get in the way of the conspiracy!
And the beat goes on.
Scott, I’m talking about an honestly, mistakenly stamped one. Not an aftermarket fake.
No legit ones have ever been seen or owned by scott, booze, or David. That is a 100% certainty. It’s all fake restamps and fairy tales.
Just because years later Booz…um some flunky flashes a restamped fake everybody got hysterical and the rumors turned into fact.
I am NOT speculating. I KNOW.
The funniest thing is the story goes there were nearly a dozen of them made and all were given away as freebies yet NOT A SINGLE ONE WAS EVER LISTED FOR SALE. ZERO! ZIP!
Let me repeat, NEARLY A DOZEN GIVEN AWAY FREE to low paid wizards employees AND NOT EVEN ONE HAS EVER BEEN LISTED. NOT ONE…IN 15 YEARS. An item that could bring THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars and…NOTHING! AND ONLY ONE LOW QUALITY DOCTORED PICTURE HAS EVER SURFACED TOO AND USED BY THE LIKES OF POKEPOP. Give me a break.
Actually, for all those people who allegedly got them free this would be the best time to list it cause I’m going to start shouting from the rooftops and expose this scam to all who will listen so nobody else gets ripped off by these unscrupulous flimflammers, like a couple mentioned earlier were ripped a decade ago.
This all makes me so angry I could gag a maggot.
Time for a sedative;)
