Graded Magikarp "Art Rare" Pokémon Card (PSA 10)

QUICK FACTS
Categories
Era
2023
Origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Brand
The Pokémon CompanyArtist/Maker
Shinji Kanda
Rarity
Common (2/10)
Discovered
Jan 18, 2026
4 weeks ago
DESCRIPTION
A 2023 Japanese Pokémon trading card featuring the Pokémon Magikarp, graded GEM MT 10 (Gem Mint) by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). This specific card is an "Art Rare" (AR) from the Scarlet & Violet 'Triplet Beat' (sv1a) expansion set, numbered 080/073. The full-card illustration by artist Shinji Kanda is highly acclaimed for its dramatic and painterly style, depicting Magikarp leaping from dark, turbulent waters with a shadowy Gyarados in the background, evoking traditional Japanese art.
CULTURAL ECHOES
Where This Object Echoes
The artwork directly references the legend of the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate (龙门), a symbol of perseverance and dramatic transformation, which is the mythological basis for Magikarp's evolution into Gyarados.
The composition, particularly the rendering of the waves and the shadowy Gyarados resembling a dragon, evokes the style of traditional Japanese woodblock prints, such as Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa'.
Ritual & Ceremonial Use
- •In the Pokémon TCG community, acquiring a PSA 10 graded 'chase card' like this one is a significant ritual for serious collectors, representing the pinnacle of condition and desirability for a modern card.
Meaning Through Time
Magikarp was introduced as a joke character, famously weak and almost useless until it evolved, symbolizing hidden potential.
This card recasts Magikarp not as weak, but as a figure of dramatic beauty and perseverance, elevating its status from a novelty to an object of artistry within the game's lore.
HISTORICAL STORY
DID YOU KNOW?
The artwork is a reference to a Chinese folktale where a carp that successfully leaps over a waterfall called the Dragon Gate is transformed into a dragon, mirroring Magikarp's evolution into Gyarados.
Despite being an "Art Rare" and not the highest rarity in its set, this card's popularity often makes it more valuable and sought-after than many higher-rarity cards from the same period.
MATERIAL & CONDITION
Surface
The card is encapsulated in a hard, clear, sonically-sealed plastic case. The card itself has a glossy finish with textured holographic elements characteristic of modern Pokémon Art Rares.
Weight & Feel
Lightweight, but feels solid and dense due to the protective PSA slab.
Condition
The card is professionally graded as GEM MT 10, the highest possible grade, indicating it is virtually flawless with no visible signs of wear, damage, or factory defects.
RARITY ANALYSIS
Older mass-produced items still widely available. Easy to find on eBay, antique malls, and estate sales in large quantities.
Typical Characteristics
- Mass produced historically
- High survival rate
- Readily available everywhere
ESTIMATED VALUE
Updated: Jan 25, 2026
- Market comparables from auctions & retail
- Condition, completeness & craftsmanship
- Current collector demand & trends
- Low = quick sale, High = patient seller
For informational purposes only—not a formal appraisal.
CONTEXT ANALYSIS
How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.
What Aligned
- The user's note implies the item's value is higher than initial assumptions, aligning with the relatively high market value for PSA 10 graded, rare Pokemon cards.
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