Lot(26) 1995 Pokemon Japanese Alpha Prototype Mounted On Card w/ Pikachu CGC

Considering their importance, it's amazing the existence of Pokémon Prototype cards remained more rumor than fact for more than 25 years. After recently discovered Proof of Concept cards, Alpha Prototype cards were the second step on the journey that would become one of the most beloved franchises in the history of card collecting. In July 2024, Takumi Akabane verified that Pokémon TCG creator Tsunekazu Ishihara, now president of the Pokémon Company, developed Alpha Prototype cards in 1995, the year before the release of the 1996 Media Factory Japanese Base Set. Ishihara presented these designs to Pokémon executives to show them the potential look and gameplay mechanics of the TCG. There are 26 Alpha Prototype cards, all of which feature black and white pixelated sprite designs from the original video games for the artwork. Alpha Prototype cards share several general characteristics with the versions millions of fans and collectors today know and love, including the character name, height and weight, HP, and level. But few other aspects resemble what was ultimately released to the public in the 1996 Japanese Base Set. Prototype cards have different types of energy symbols that do not appear on any other cards. They also have habitat information that was later removed. Prototype cards don’t have rarity symbols in the bottom right corner nor illustrator credit listed on the bottom of the card. When compared with the final iteration of the '96 Japanese Base Set, these quirks help illustrate just how early in the game's development Prototype cards were created. This is the first time all 26 have been listed for public auction together as a complete set. All 26 have earned grades ranging from CGC 8 - CGC 10, with three residing in CGC 10 holders. Read more about these cards in our Guide to Pokémon Proof of Concept, Prototype, Playtest, and Presentation Cards: https://www.fanaticscollect.com/definitive-guides/what-are-pokemon-prototype-playtest-and-presentation-cards