Pop Reports for the 1997 Tomy Scratch Pokemon Set

Pop Reports for Tomy Scratch

The 1997 Tomy Scratch Set is among the scarcest collectibles in all of Pokémon. One of the “First Four” sets (Carddass, Japanese Base, Tomy, and Topsun), pre-dating the US launch in 1999, these are from a time where collecting was a rare thought, versus playing the game.

On top of a preference for play over protection, the mechanic of this game meant very few TOMY cards are left in unscratched condition, a natural catalyst that led to scarcity of any remaining cards. Even scratched cards were often discarded rather than saved!!

Currently graded by PSA & BGS

The rarest Dragonite in all of Pokemon? The coveted “unscratched” 1997 TOMY Dragonite.

Highest graded, pop 1 (total graded pop of 7) as of May 2026.

PSA Pop Report

https://www.psacard.com/pop/tcg-cards/1997/tomy-pokemon-scratch-cards/178664 

• PSA started grading TOMY in early 2021.
• PSA combines both Series1 and Series2 of 1997 TOMY into one set (totaling 72 cards and 12 prisms).

BGS Pop Report

BGS is now tracking grades in their pop report. I believe they’ve been grading these cards since the 2010s.

https://www.beckett.com/grading/set_match/29624711

Is it Scratched or Unscratched?

PSA is very picky when it comes to designating a card as “Unscratched”. 

Case in point – this Scyther series 2 card was deemed “scratched” despite having only very light rubbing on it.

Graded TOMY Notes

 With a substantial number of 1997 TOMY Pokémon cards now graded by PSA, we’re seeing some trends.

• As of May 2026, the prism style cards (holos) have only achieved two PSA 10s.
   – 1x PSA10 Charizard prism (unscratched)
   – 1x PSA10 Pikachu prism (unscratched)

• Be ready for upcharges if you have a nice card. PSA upcharged me to $300 per card on my PSA9 Charizards and also upcharged on some of the other prisms.

    – these upcharges come after the PSA8 Tomy Charizard sale at Goldin for $8,400 in September 2021
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• A PSA 9 might be the Tomy equivalent to 10s from other sets, especially for prisms. PSA 10s are like black label 10s.
• Holo/Prism cards are unbelievably difficult to GEM. These cards are finicky with surface (of course) but also centering and edges. Add Prism surface issues and print lines on top of all of that and it’s insane if a shiny TOMY gets a 10.
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• * I’ve graded 12 Charizards (10 of which were pack pulled by me) and hit five PSA9s, five PSA8s and two PSA 6s
  * I’ve graded 12 Pikachus (10 of which were pack pulled by me) and hit three PSA9s, four PSA8s and five PSA 7s

CGC Pop Reports for Tomy Scratch

I’m not sure if CGC grades this set. I haven’t submitted with them and I do not seem to be able to find the pop report. With that said, I find their pop report hard to navigate.

Unofficial Pop Reports

I’ve researched many publicly listed, graded Scratch card listed on eBay, Instagram, Worthpoint, Terapeak and more. I’ve used the serial numbers from these images to find the individual grades and sub-grades on Beckett’s website and elsewhere. There are likely “some” more graded BGS slabs which haven’t been publicly displayed, but I doubt it’s very many at this point. There are just so few “unscratched” TOMY cards.