Alakazam - Expansion Pack (Holo Rare) [No. 065]

Name: Alakazam - Expansion Pack (Holo Rare) [No. 065]
Brand: The Collector
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Japanese 1996 Pokemon Alakazam Base Set holographic card in a protective top-loader sleeve. - view 1

1/3

Estimated value

$45 - $85

Rarity

Uncommon(5/10)

ALAKAZAM - EXPANSION PACK (HOLO RARE) [NO. 065]: IDENTIFICATION

Japanese Alakazam holofoil card from the 1996 Expansion Pack (Base Set) illustrated by Ken Sugimori. This specimen features the 'star' rarity symbol in the bottom right corner, indicating a standard Holo Rare release rather than the extremely rare 'no-symbol' error. The card displays the classic Japanese 'Pocket Monsters' back design with the original logo and copyright text dating to 1996. The 80 HP Psychic-type Alakazam includes the 'Damage Swap' Pokémon Power and the 'Confuse Ray' attack (30 damage).

Compare with other trading cards in the archive: Raticate - XY Evolutions (Common), Sandshrew - Base Set (Common), Smeargle - Super-Blazing Shock (Uncommon) [SM8-070/095].

CROSS-CULTURAL PARALLELS

Where This Object Echoes

Japanese FolkloreEdo Period

Alakazam's design reflects the 'Baku', a dream-eating spirit often depicted with a trunk or snout, combined with Western stage magic tropes.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•Competitive TCG tournaments utilize specific 'Classic' formats where this original 1996 print remains a cornerstone of Psychic-type deck archetypes.

Meaning Through Time

Late 1990s

Symbolized the pinnacle of 'power creep' in early strategy gaming due to its unique board manipulation mechanics.

SET RELEASE & PRINT RUN

Released on October 20, 1996, in Japan, this card was part of the very first Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion. Alakazam held a dominant position in the early competitive metagame due to its 'Damage Swap' ability, which allowed players to move damage counters between their Pokémon, often paired with Chansey to soak up hits. Unlike the English Base Set which had three distinct print runs (Shadowless, 1st Edition, Unlimited), the Japanese Expansion Pack followed a more consistent production style, though the earliest print runs lacked the rarity symbol.

COLLECTOR INTEL

The character Alakazam (Foodin in Japanese) was the subject of a legal dispute by magician Uri Geller, which prevented the character from appearing on new cards for nearly 20 years until 2023.

Early Japanese Base Set cards like this one utilize a much higher quality gloss finish and thicker paper stock compared to their Western counterparts released by Wizards of the Coast in 1999.

SCARCITY

Uncommon70-80%

CommonLegendary

Genuine antiques with fewer examples on the market. Named makers, documented provenance, or early production examples.

Rarity 5/10. Curiosa currently catalogues 74 trading cards items at rarity 5 or higher.

Typical Characteristics

Limited production
Named makers
Growing collector demand

Confidence Factors

Holographic pattern matches known 1996 'Cosmos' style foil used by Media Factory
Card back features correct 1996 copyright layout and font weight
Color saturation and text alignment are consistent with authentic Japanese Base Set production

How does authenticity detection work?

GRADING EXPERT'S TAKE

Trading Card Market Analyst

Card Specialist

Clear high-resolution photos allow for definitive identification of the set, rarity, and specific card variant. Condition assessment is limited only by the inability to see micro-scratches on the foil under angled light.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Presence of the star rarity symbol in the bottom right corner confirms standard release.
2Correct 'No. 065' identifier matches the original Japanese Pokédex numbering.
3Card back 'Pocket Monsters' logo is the original Japanese design, not the international 'Pokémon' version.
4Ink saturation levels on the psychic energy symbols match 1996 plate standards.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Remove from top-loader to inspect the surface for 'silvering' on front edges.
→Check for light scratching on the holo pattern under a direct LED light source.
→Verify the presence of the 'black line' core in the cardstock layer using a jeweler's loupe.

CONDITION & GRADE

PSA 6-7

Grading breakdown

Significant white chipping on the reverse top-right and bottom-left corners prevents a higher grade. Centering on the front is approximately 65/35.

Condition

Visible whitening and edge wear along the top and bottom borders on the reverse side. The front centering appears slightly biased towards the right, while the holographic field shows minor surface swirling typical of binder storage.

TRADING CARD MARKET VALUE

$45 - $85

Updated: May 10, 2026

Who buys this

Vintage Pokémon enthusiasts and Japanese set-complete collectors looking for high-quality raw copies of OG 'Big Three' era cards.

What increases value

•Nostalgia factor for the original Base Set artwork
•Strong demand for high-grade Japanese vintage due to superior print quality
•Popularity of the Alakazam character following the resolution of the Uri Geller lawsuit

What lowers value

•Whitening on the back significantly caps the potential for professional grading ROI
•Market preference for the 'No-Symbol' error variant of this specific card