While collectors fight over Special Illustration Rares and anything featuring Charizard, a quieter opportunity has emerged in standard Illustration Rares from two overlooked sets.
Shrouded Fable and Journey Together have produced some of the scarcest PSA 10 Illustration Rares in the modern era, with several cards under 100 total graded copies.
Understanding What You’re Buying
Cards marked with a single gold star feature Pokémon in artistic natural environments. Special Illustration Rares (double star) get textured foil treatment and typically feature Pokémon ex or Supporters.
Here’s the twist: true Illustration Rares often see fewer grading submissions than splashier Special Illustration Rares. Collectors chase the obvious hits, leaving standard IRs with unexpectedly thin populations.
The Scarcest Cards Worth Tracking
These Illustration Rares have the lowest PSA 10 populations while commanding raw prices above $10:
| Card | Set | PSA 10 Pop | Raw Price | PSA 10 Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noibat #169/159 | Journey Together | 109 | $12-20 | $35-50 |
| Bewear #078/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~37 total | $10-15 | $53-70 |
| Fraxure #077/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~33 total | $10-20 | $40-60 |
| Fezandipiti #073/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~51 total | $10-20 | $40-60 |
| Cufant #076/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~52 total | $10-15 | $30-50 |
| Zorua #074/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~53 total | $15-25 | $51-133 |
| Duskull #073/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~69 total | $15-25 | $68-82 |
| Dusknoir IR | Shrouded Fable | ~83 total | $20-30 | $62-107 |
| Houndoom #075/064 | Shrouded Fable | ~159 total | $25-40 | $118-182 |
| Infernape #173/167 | Twilight Masquerade | ~354 total | $9-12 | $50-70 |
| Chansey #187/167 | Twilight Masquerade | ~411 total | $30-45 | $170-202 |
Shrouded Fable dominates this list because the set has only 53,434 total cards graded at PSA—compare that to 140,000+ for Twilight Masquerade.
Mid-Range Populations With Strong Demand
| Card | Set | PSA 10 Pop | Raw Price | PSA 10 Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Misty’s Psyduck #193/182 | Destined Rivals | Moderate | $40-60 | $295.99 |
| Ethan’s Typhlosion #190/182 | Destined Rivals | Moderate | $35-50 | $219.99 |
| Team Rocket’s Weezing #199/182 | Destined Rivals | Moderate | $25-35 | $152.99 |
| Kangaskhan #204/182 | Destined Rivals | Moderate | $20-35 | $129.99 |
| Team Rocket’s Raticate #202/182 | Destined Rivals | Moderate | $18-30 | $104.99 |
| N’s Reshiram #167/159 | Journey Together | ~1,828 | $40-60 | $238.75 |
| Iono’s Kilowattrel #163/159 | Journey Together | ~1,500 | $8-12 | $148.88 |
| Eevee #188/167 | Twilight Masquerade | ~850 total | $60-80 | $235-290 |
Destined Rivals commands premiums thanks to Team Rocket nostalgia.
The Nostalgia Tax
Pokemon 151 proves popularity doesn’t equal scarcity:
| Card | Set | PSA 10 Pop | Raw Price | PSA 10 Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squirtle #148/142 | Stellar Crown | ~1,500+ | $50-57 | $250-345 |
| Bulbasaur #147/142 | Stellar Crown | ~1,200+ | $40-50 | $200-305 |
| Charmander #168/165 | Pokemon 151 | High | $43-48 | $325.65 |
| Squirtle #170/165 | Pokemon 151 | High | $41-46 | $266.78 |
| Charmeleon #169/165 | Pokemon 151 | High | $31-34 | $280.00 |
| Pikachu #173/165 | Pokemon 151 | High | $33-37 | $248.00 |
| Bulbasaur #166/165 | Pokemon 151 | High | $34-38 | $214.99 |
Pokémon 151 has 653,204 total cards graded—the most heavily submitted Scarlet & Violet set. Kanto nostalgia drove massive interest, but that enthusiasm flooded the market with PSA 10 copies.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Total grading submissions paint a clear picture:
- Shrouded Fable: 53,434 total graded (lowest)
- Twilight Masquerade: 140,583 total graded
- Journey Together: 159,887 total graded
- Destined Rivals: 185,569 total graded
- Prismatic Evolutions: 221,765 total graded
- Surging Sparks: 246,744 total graded
- Pokemon 151: 653,204 total graded (highest)
Modern sets see gem rates averaging 35-45% thanks to improved print quality. But a high gem rate only matters relative to how many cards actually get submitted.
The Bottom Line
If population matters to your collecting strategy, Shrouded Fable Illustration Rares offer the clearest opportunity. Entry points remain accessible—$10-40 raw, $40-180 graded—while total copies stay genuinely scarce.
Journey Together’s Noibat sits at just 109 confirmed PSA 10 copies, the lowest verified population among trackable Illustration Rares. Newer 2025 sets lack sufficient grading data yet, as submissions typically lag releases by six to twelve months.
The market’s obsession with Special Illustration Rares has created a gap that won’t last forever.
