Just months after CGC announced it would begin grading a number of new-to-the-hobby prototype and playtest Pokémon cards, some authenticated copies are being investigated as possible forgeries.
Working with Takumi Akabane, one of the original developers of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, CGC began grading cards in September that fell under categories such as Alpha Prototype, Alpha Playtest, Beta Playtest, Delta Playtest, Alpha Presentation and Beta Presentation, with the variations showing the game’s earliest design transformations.
CGC wrote in a blog post announcing the cards' authentication that it “left no stone unturned when authenticating these rare playtest cards.” In order to find additional known examples for comparison, CGC said in the post it found online photos posted by an individual “intimately involved in the creation of the Pokémon TCG.”
Dozens of these graded cards have sold across numerous auction sites, easily totaling more than $1 million in collective sales.
The authentication of some of these test issues has come under extreme scrutiny in recent days, however, with a buyer finding evidence that suggests some prototypes were created in 2024, instead of the 1990s.
According to PokeBeach, a website that covers the Pokémon trading card game, one buyer analyzed the digital watermarks many printers leave behind, which can include information about the device itself as well as the date the document was printed. Additional examination of some test prints found an origin date in 2024, indicating a possible forgery.
“We are aware of recent statements being made online regarding CGC-graded prototype and playtest Pokémon cards,” CGC said in a statement to cllct. “CGC takes these claims very seriously, and we are conducting a full investigation. We will provide information as it becomes available.”
According to data tool Card Ladder, more than 700 auctions have sold publicly that include verbiage for a Pokémon prototype or playtest.
The highest solo playtest card to sell publicly appears to be a CGC 10 1995 Pokemon Alpha Prototype that sold for $204,000 during the Sotheby's-Fanatics Collect "Holy Grails" auction in September. The link to the lot now appears as an error message.
"We are aware of the recent concerns regarding the authenticity of CGC-graded prototype and playtest Pokémon cards and are currently in communication with CGC to verify whether any of the lots we sold are involved in this issue," Sotheby's said in a statement provided to cllct.
Multiple other auction houses have sold cards which might be affected. Fanatics Collect sold a lot of 26 CGC-graded Alpha Prototypes in October for $132,000.
“In light of the recently surfaced information around Pokemon prototype and playtest cards, we have removed them from our marketplace and auctions while we investigate the matter more thoroughly," Fanatics said in a statement to cllct. "We always take issues of authenticity seriously and will reach out to any impacted customers in short order. We will also communicate any permanent policy changes that arise as a result of this examination."
Alt sold a 1996 Pokémon Japanese Delta Playtest Charizard CGC 10 for $99,000 in October. In a statement included by Pokebeach, Alt said "We’re aware of recent claims regarding CGC-graded Pokemon prototype and playtest cards that have been sold across various platforms. CGC has assured us they are taking these allegations seriously and are conducting a thorough review. We’re staying in close communication with CGC and will share updates as they become available."
In another blog post on the CGC site from late 2024, the company provided details into the process it used to authenticate the cards, noting they were forensically imaged under "numerous types of lighting sources" that was "similar" to the process used in the examination of Test Print Blastoise cards.
"Authenticity and trust are vital at Goldin," said Goldin Auctions CEO Ken Goldin. "Upon discovering potential issues around the authenticity of Pokémon prototype and Playtest cards, we promptly removed them from our auctions. We are working with CGC, who authenticated the cards, and will act based on their investigation's findings, ensuring we do right by any impacted clients."
CGC previously certified multiple Pokémon-Magic: The Gathering hybrid test cards, announcing in 2020 they were "among the first English Pokémon cards ever printed." One of those cards sold for $360,000 in 2021, though it should be noted there have been no claims regarding the authenticity of the hybrid test cards have been raised.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.
Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct.com and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectibles market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.