Pokémon anniversary reprints offer another way to collect older favourites
The comparison covers Gardevoir, Greninja, Solgaleo, Buzzwole and Pikachu & Zekrom, with different price gaps between reprints and originals.
Before we dive in
A reprint brings a previously released Pokémon card into a later product. Collectors may want the familiar design, while others specifically seek its original expansion printing, which remains a different collectible.
Condition and grading also affect comparisons. An ungraded card and a professionally graded copy are not interchangeable purchases, and a quoted market figure is a snapshot rather than a guaranteed sale price.
The update
Sports Illustrated’s latest anniversary comparison looks at reprints of older cards, including several remembered from competitive play. Its examples show why buying the artwork and buying the original printing can mean different budgets.
The feature revisits M Gardevoir EX, Greninja BREAK, Solgaleo GX, Buzzwole GX and Pikachu & Zekrom GX. It connects the cards to earlier gameplay mechanics and competitive eras, rather than announcing a new expansion.
Its reported prices place some originals above their anniversary versions, while Solgaleo is an example of the reverse. The practical point is to identify the exact printing and condition before comparing listings. We are treating the figures as the author’s snapshot, not an independently verified valuation.