Quilava Lv.25 - Mysterious Treasures (Rare) [60/123]

Name: Quilava Lv.25 - Mysterious Treasures (Rare) [60/123]
Brand: Momofthecircus
Availability: LimitedAvailability

Pokémon TCG Quilava Lv.25 card from the Mysterious Treasures set, featuring a fiery artwork on a wooden background.

Estimated value

$1 - $5

Rarity

Ordinary(3/10)

COLLECTOR'S BREAKDOWN: QUILAVA LV.25 - MYSTERIOUS TREASURES (RARE) [60/123]

This is a Pokémon TCG card featuring Quilava, the Volcano Pokémon. Illustrated by Atsuko Nishida, this particular card showcases Quilava at Level 25 with 80 HP. It's a Stage 1 Pokémon that evolves from Cyndaquil. The card's attack, 'Fireworks,' deals 40 damage, with the additional effect of discarding a Fire Energy if tails. The flavor text describes Quilava's intimidating flame, which burns more strongly as it prepares to fight.

CULTURAL CARD LORE

Where This Object Echoes

Japanese MythologyAncient to modern

Quilava, as a Fire-type Pokémon with 'Volcano Pokémon' as its species, reflects elemental spirits and mythical creatures associated with natural phenomena like volcanoes and fire often found in Japanese folklore. Its evolution line (Cyndaquil, Quilava, Typhlosion) visually evokes traits of weasels or badgers, animals that appear in various cultural tales.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•The ritual of battling and collecting within the Pokémon TCG ecosystem, where players assemble decks and engage in strategic card play, mimicking the 'trainer' journey in the video games.
•The 'rite of passage' for many entering card collecting hobbies, often starting with iconic franchises like Pokémon, leading to an understanding of rarity, condition, and market values.

Meaning Through Time

Late 1990s - Early 2000s

Within its initial release period, Quilava represented a mid-stage evolution that was a common sight in player's decks and collections, a solid choice for a Fire-type Pokémon in casual play and early competitive scenes.

Present Day (2020s)

Today, this specific Quilava card is largely seen as a nostalgic collectible item, primarily valued by collectors completing sets from the Diamond & Pearl era or those with sentimental attachment to the Pokémon.

CARD HISTORY & PRINT RUNS

This Quilava card hails from the Diamond & Pearl series, specifically the 'Mysterious Treasures' set (DP3). The Diamond & Pearl era introduced several new game mechanics and Pokémon from the Sinnoh region, but this card features a Johto region Pokémon. The 'Mysterious Treasures' set itself was released in August 2007, continuing the trend of expanding the Pokémon TCG with new creatures and strategic options following the initial launch of the Diamond & Pearl base set.

COLLECTOR INTEL

Quilava is a dual-type Fire/Ground Pokémon in the spin-off game Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time/Darkness, though its TCG card is purely Fire-type, reflecting its primary typing in the main series games.

Atsuko Nishida is a prolific Pokémon illustrator known for designing Pikachu, and has contributed artwork to the Pokémon TCG since its very first sets, creating many iconic card images.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Ordinary40-55%

CommonLegendary

Standard antiques commonly found at estate sales and flea markets. Plentiful supply meets modest demand.

Typical Characteristics

Moderate production runs
Common at estate sales
Entry-level collectibles

Confidence Factors

Common card with no significant value that would encourage forgery.
Visual elements (artwork style, set symbol, text) align with known genuine cards from the era.

How does authenticity detection work?

GRADING EXPERT'S TAKE

Trading Card Market Analyst

Card Specialist

Confidence is high due to clear identification of the Pokémon, set number, and identifiable set symbol. The card's visual characteristics are consistent with genuine Pokémon TCG cards from the specified era.

KEY EVIDENCE

1Identifiable as Quilava Lv.25 from the card title and artwork.
2Bottom right corner indicates card number '60/123', which corresponds to the 'Mysterious Treasures' set.
3Set symbol (bottom right, next to collector number) is consistent with the Diamond & Pearl 'Mysterious Treasures' expansion.
4Illustrator credit 'Atsuko Nishida' is visible, confirming authenticity of the artwork style for the era.
5Weakness to Water (+20) and Retreat Cost of 1 aligns with typical card mechanics for this Pokémon and era.

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Obtain clear, high-resolution photographs of the card's front and back under direct, even lighting to precisely assess surface condition, edge wear, and centering.
→Examine the card for any holofoil pattern (though this rare is not typically holo, variants exist) or print errors.
→Check for any indentation or creasing on the surface that may not be apparent in current images.
→Compare the print quality and exact text formatting to known examples of genuine cards from the 'Mysterious Treasures' set.

CONDITION & GRADE

Condition

Based on the image, the card shows some visible corner whitening, particularly on the top edge, and potentially some edge wear. The main surface appears relatively clean, but the resolution doesn't allow for a definitive assessment of minor scratches or indentations. This would likely place it in the 'Played' to 'Lightly Played' raw condition category.

Surface

The card appears to have a standard glossy semi-reflective surface typical of early 2000s Pokémon TCG cards. The artwork is vibrant, indicating decent print quality, though minor surface wear is suggested by the overall condition.