Yes, Blastoise is an Extremely Rare and Valuable Pokemon Card

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Blastoise pokemon cards are some of the rarest, most sought-after, and valuable cards in the entire pokemon trading card game. Across all editions and print runs, Blastoise cards are far more difficult to obtain than the vast majority of other pokemon cards. And the most coveted Blastoise cards can be worth truly staggering amounts – tens of thousands of dollars or more!

Why Are Blastoise Cards So Rare?

To understand Blastoise‘s scarcity, we have to go back to the early days of Pokemon.

Blastoise first appeared in the 1999 1st Edition Base Set as one of the ultra-rare holographic cards. As one of the original starter pokemon from Generation 1, Blastoise quickly became a fan favorite and cultural icon.

But here‘s the key – far fewer Blastoise cards were printed in early sets compared to other popular pokemon like Pikachu. And the 1st Edition Base Set print run was extremely limited.

According to population reports by PSA, there are:

• 4,915 rated Pikachu Base Set cards
• 1,302 rated Blastoise Base Set cards

Raw Pikachu cards from Base Set are very easy to find even today. But Blastoise cards are few and far between, especially in top condition.

Later Wizards of the Coast sets also printed Blastoise sparingly as an ultra rare or secret rare. For example, Skyridge has 127 rare Houndoom cards graded by PSA but only 45 rare Blastoise.

As the Pokemon franchise exploded in popularity in the late 90s, demand massively outpaced the scarce supply of those early Blastoise cards. So it‘s no surprise that prices have skyrocketed for high grade copies.

How Much Is a Blastoise Card Worth?

The exact value depends heavily on condition and specific printing. But here are typical price ranges for Blastoise cards:

• Regular (non-holo) Blastoise Cards – $15 to $50
• Holofoil Blastoise Cards – $50 to $500
• 1st Edition Shadowless Holo Blastoise – $5,000 to $15,000+
• PSA 10 Gem Mint Blastoise – $10,000 to $50,000+

The most coveted Blastoise cards in pristine PSA 10 or BGS 10 condition can easily fetch 5 figures at auction.

According to PWCC Marketplace, here are some recent sale prices:

• 1999 Base Set Blastoise 1st Ed PSA 10 – $49,300 in March 2022
• 1999 Base Set Shadowless Blastoise PSA 10 – $46,600 in Feb 2021
• 1998 Japanese Promo Blastoise PSA 10 – $24,100 in July 2020

Even lower grade copies and ungraded raw cards carry significant premiums over other Base Set holos, since supply is so limited.

Other Rare & Valuable Blastoise Cards

Here are some other notably rare and expensive Blastoise cards:

• Prerelease Cleffa & Blastoise – This special promo card was given to tournament winners in 1999 before Base Set released. Only about 100 exist, very few in top grade. Gem mint copies have exceeded $30,000+. One PSA 10 sold for $50,000 in 2021.

• No Rarity Symbol Blastoise – A very rare Base Set misprint without the normal star rarity symbol. PSA 9s have sold for $15,000+.

• 1999 Super Secret Battle No. 1 Blastoise – This Japanese promo card was a prize for a magazine contest in 1999. Given their age and limited supply, even PSA 6s can sell for $3,000+.

• 1998 Lucky Stadium Blastoise Holo – This Japanese exclusive promo was distributed to tournament players in 1998, a year before Base Set. Very few survive in top condition 23 years later. A PSA 10 sold for $20,100 in July 2020.

The extreme rarity of these cards, nostalgia, and Blastoise‘s enduring popularity all fuel the high prices collectors are willing to pay. But cards must be authenticated and graded to realize maximum value.

Why Grading Matters for Valuation

Third-party grading from PSA or BGS provides verification of:

• Authenticity – Ensures the card is real, not counterfeit.

• Condition – Grading assesses how pristine or damaged the card is on a 1-10 scale.

• Scarcity – Population reports list how many PSA 10 or BGS 10 copies exist. The lower the population for a high grade, the better.

For older rare cards like Blastoise, collectors are extremely condition sensitive. A PSA 10 gem mint card can be worth 5-10x more than a PSA 8 in "excellent" condition.

Raw ungraded cards also tend to sell at a discount, since condition is uncertain. So professional grading adds significant value for scarce vintage cards.

Should You Buy Blastoise as an Investment?

Over the past decade, Pokemon cards have gained recognition as an asset class for collecting and investing. Rare, vintage cards in mint condition have seen massive price appreciation.

For example, that 1999 1st Edition Shadowless PSA 10 Blastoise sold for $12,000 in 2012. A decade later in 2022, it‘s now worth $50,000 – a 313% increase!

Sealed booster boxes have also soared. A 1999 Base Set box sold for $75,000 in 2020 and now auctions for over $400,000.

As an iconic, fan-favorite pokemon from Gen 1, Blastoise seems likely to remain highly sought after by collectors for years to come. But prices on modern cards could fluctuate with new releases.

I recommend focusing on graded vintage cards or sealed boxes for the safest investment potential. And always buy from reputable graders or dealers – fraud is unfortunately common for high value cards.

While returns have been strong recently, past performance doesn‘t guarantee future results. So invest carefully and don‘t spend more than you can afford to lose.

But if you get your hands on a rare Blastoise card from the early print runs in pristine condition, it could end up being an extremely valuable investment piece decades from now!