Illustrator for sure, it’s one of the rarest cards in the hobby. I also already have a Base Set 2 Charizard and I’m not particularly keen on having the 1st Edition Base version.
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Zard 100%
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Charizard. Illustrator stays relevant due to the sheer amount of media produced around it and SSS tier goat artwork, while it’s fundamentals have been irreparably damaged by extra copies. The historical importance of these early events have not stood the test of time. More people know the illustrator contest, parent child tournament, etc. because of their association with these early promos, rather than the other way around. Anyway, I hope my new Charizard isn’t a 2 cert.
Increasingly more collectors I talk to consider 97 Pika the top of their mountain.
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I’m not sure what you mean about these cards not standing the test of time? The old back trophy category is the highest end. With that said, I’ve been outspoken about the extra illustrators, but something I can’t ignore is how well they have been absorbed. This illustrates a deeper market demand than some of us expected, myself included.
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There’s a reason why this thread was called
What would you rather have? PSA 10 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard Vs. Illustrator Pikachu PSA 7
and not
What would you rather have? PSA 10 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard Vs. 1997 Tropy Pikachu PSA 7
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The cards certainly have stood the test of time! Can’t argue with demand. It’s the history behind (some) of them, that I don’t believe has quite maintained relevance. Tomorrow dilutes the importance of yesterday.
_
Bringing up 97 is no different than why others have brought up different Arita Charizards. No card exists in a bubble. Alternatives are important to this discussion.
Illustrator, no doubt. I take an unique artwork where any condition is rare over a PSA-10 regular set card. 
Although either is fine, since I’ll sell it anyway in order to buy cards I prefer more. 
Greetz,
Quuador
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Give me a new cert Illustrator or nothing at all. 
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FUCK Akabane
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Illustrator for sure.
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if it was a black label 1st edition charizard would it change your mind? It would be a pop 1 card and probably the most desired pokemon card in the world
would you stick to absolute rarity > conditional rarity philosophy??
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I would stick to my guns about rarity over condition, absolutely.
Like many here, I’ve owned some of the most renowned cards in the hobby and a silly gimmick like a black label wouldn’t make me falter on my principles.
I’m not saying anyone who would chose otherwise is wrong by any means, that’s just not how I roll.
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Fair enough. Genuinely just picking your brain. I like to see everyones viewpoints
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Im in the same boat. I view scarcity well above condition. That and graded cards in general do nothing for me. Obviously people would want both, and everyones collection differs. When most people already have everything aside from the niche cards collected it becomes that much harder to find them when there are a million extra people in the hobby, but the total amount of cards hasnt changed in nearly 30 years. My 0.2c
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I’d take the Charizard purely because it was an icon of my childhood, I have a connection to it and organically desire it.
I appreciate the historical significance of the pika but I wasn’t aware it existed until I was an adult and read about it on the internet. I guess I’m just a basic B. Nostalgia is a helluva drug.
Both are unobtanium for me regardless. I GUESS I’d accept an illustrator if my secret santa is reading this though 
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Golden 
I’d take the zard. That is some life changing money for me and I feel the zard would move faster as it is better known by the general public.
I picked 1st Edition Charizard, gimme in like a PSA 6. Illustrator is a cool card, but you would’ve got a swirly in school if you tried to show that on the playground and be cool against Charlizard.
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I’d take the illustrator without a second thought
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