The world of philately is warmly welcoming a new arrival. It’s Pikachu, the iconic (and heroic) character who first appeared in the Pokémon world in 1996. The stamp dedicated to him has already excited stamp collectors, who will certainly want it among their collections.
Announced on “Philately Day”
The stamp was issued on Philately Day, October 30th. For the more expert and meticulous readers, here are some details. The print run is 500,024 units, issued in sheets of twenty-eight. The State Printing and Mint Institute S.p.A. printed the stamp using rotogravure on white, neutral-coated, self-adhesive, non-fluorescent paper. It falls under category B, with a current value of 1.25 euros. However, some experts have ventured to say it could skyrocket in value over the coming years, thanks to the iconic (and current) legacy of the electric Pokémon.
Pikachu is arguably the most versatile and well-known product of the highly successful Pokémon gaming and cinematic franchise. His first appearance dates back to 1996, in the Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue versions, but he is featured in every new release.
This may seem like a bold, clever, and shrewd move. The world of philately is in crisis, at least in Italy, with fewer and fewer young people interested and increasingly empty auctions. True stamp experts are more often part of older generations, and this appears to be a very clear attempt to draw younger people into discovering this “ancient” yet modern world. Will it work?
At the same time, the timing has not gone unnoticed with the third edition of Lucca Comics, an event that brings together fans of all kinds of video games, sagas, films, TV series, cartoons, anime, cosplay, literature, comics, and manga. It’s an experience, a journey, that each year attracts tens of thousands of fans to Lucca. The 2024 edition takes place from October 30th to November 3rd.
