Pokemon Pikachu Holo Promo (42/146, sealed)

Pokémon cards are counterfeited a lot, and the better fakes cannot be told apart from real ones on a photo. That is why every card in our shop goes through these five checks before it is sold.

1. 1

   Light test — the black core layer

   A real Pokémon card consists of two layers of card stock with a black core in between. Held against a bright lamp, it lets almost no light through. A counterfeit lacks that core and visibly lights up. This is the quickest and hardest test there is.

2. 2

   Edge inspection under magnification

   Along the side of a real card runs a thin, even black line — the same core as above, now seen from the side. On a counterfeit that line is missing, greyish or unevenly thick.

3. 3

   Print pattern of the artwork

   Official cards are printed with a fine, regular rosette pattern. Under a loupe you see a tight dot pattern. Counterfeits show coarse, blurry or irregularly placed dots, especially in flat areas of colour.

4. 4

   Font, spacing and the back

   The attack text, the HP number and the set symbol are in fixed fonts with fixed spacing. The blue back has a specific colour balance. Different letter weight, crooked alignment or a back that is too dark or too purple are direct signals.

5. 5

   Size, weight and feel

   A standard card measures 63 × 88 mm and weighs about 1.7 grams. Counterfeits are often a fraction larger or smaller, feel smoother or rather flimsier, and spring back differently.