When it comes to the 1999 base set, the three most sought after cards are Blastoise, Charizard, and Venusaur. These characters hold a special place in the hearts of all Pokémon collectors.
However, many may not know that there is an error version of this iconic Blastoise. On the bottom of most base set Blastoise cards you will find the words ""Illus. Ken Sugimori"". Pokemon includes these words to give credit to the legendary Pokemon illustrator However, on the bottom of a few Blastoise cards from the 1999 Base set, you will see ""us. Ken Sugimori"". This Blastoise Illustrator Error example, is the only one in existence to earn the coveted Gem Mint PSA 10 grade, making this one of the rarest Blastoise cards on the planet.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 10/13/2025.
