The Invitation to a Secret Tournament
The No. 1 Trainer card from the 1999 Super Secret Battle is one of the rarest Pokémon cards in existence — only 7 copies were made. The card served as both a trophy and an invitation: winners of regional tournaments received it, and presenting it granted entry to the secret national finals in Tokyo.
The location of the finals was literally a secret. Winners only discovered where to go after receiving the card. The finals took place on August 22, 1999, in Tokyo — the exact venue remains unclear to this day.
The card features a silhouetted Mewtwo and reads: "The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament's champion is recognized here, and this honor is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle."
With only 7 copies total and 6 graded PSA 10, this card is rarer than the Pikachu Illustrator (which has ~41 copies). A PSA 10 sold for $156,000 in 2022 at Heritage Auctions.
