There is no shortage of stunning high-end graded Pokémon TCG cards setting records weekly on the secondary market. Sometimes, though, a collection of cards comes along that deserves special plaudits due to historical significance, tremendous scarcity, or sheer aesthetic beauty. The English Southern Islands Promos from 2001 certainly fit that bill.

Southern Islands was an unusual release from the beginning. The collection first appeared in Japan in 1999 alongside the second Pokémon movie, with its 18 cards divided between themed Tropical Island and Rainbow Island portfolios. Smaller three-card sets were also released, each focusing on a particular area of one of the two islands and forming a larger panoramic scene when placed together.

That interconnected artwork is a huge part of Southern Islands’ enduring appeal. Prolific Pokémon TCG illustrator Naoyo Kimura illustrated the Tropical Island scenes, while Keiko Fukuyama handled Rainbow Island, with each individual card essentially serving as one piece of a much larger picture.

When Wizards of the Coast released the collection in English in 2001, all 18 cards were packaged together in a decorated folder alongside postcards and three booster packs, while preserving the original, highly unique island art style that made the Japanese release so distinctive. The holos are also particularly striking, with shimmering swirls and sparkling patterns dotting nearly the entire card rather than remaining confined to the artwork box, giving those already distinctive illustrations even more visual impact.

But what of the recent record sales of some of the cards from the Southern Islands set?

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