3 Stunning 25-Year-Old Pokémon Promo Cards Fetch Nearly $1.2 Million at Auction
The Southern Islands Promos, a collection of 25-year-old Pokémon trading cards, have sold for nearly $1.2 million at auction. These historically significant cards represent one of the hobby’s most sought-after collections due to their rarity and artistic value.
The Southern Islands collection originated in Japan in 1999, coinciding with the release of the second Pokémon movie. The complete set comprises 18 cards distributed across two themed portfolios: Tropical Island and Rainbow Island. Additionally, smaller three-card promotional sets were released, each depicting a specific area of one of the two islands. What makes this collection particularly notable is its interconnected artwork—the smaller sets form a larger panoramic scene when placed together, making the cards valuable not just individually but as a cohesive artistic whole.
The English version of Southern Islands represents a unique and unusual release within Pokémon Trading Card Game history. The combination of historical significance, extreme scarcity, and distinctive aesthetic qualities has made these cards some of the most coveted in the secondary trading card market. This auction result continues a recent trend of high-value Pokémon cards commanding record-breaking prices, though the Southern Islands collection stands out for its historical importance and artistic design.