Pokémon Umbreon — McDonald’s Promo (025/P) 2002 Japanese, PSA 10

A promotional card distributed by McDonald’s in Japan in 2002, depicting Umbreon — the evolution of Eevee — perched on a rooftop in a suggestive urban European view, with spires and roofs recalling the architecture of a city such as Prague or Paris. The illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita, one of the most iconic and sought-after of the historic Pokémon TCG illustrators, captures perfectly the mysterious, nocturnal nature of this Dark-type Pokémon.

Japanese McDonald’s cards from 2002 were distributed only for a limited period, during a promotional campaign tied to the franchise, which makes them difficult to find today in good condition. Graded PSA 10 GEM MINT — the highest grade assignable, with perfect centering, corners and surface — it is a genuine rarity for promotional cards of this era, typically handled with less care than booster cards.

The Arita signature is much pursued by collectors, known for a realistic, atmospheric style that defined the aesthetic of the game’s earliest eras, while the subject, one of the most beloved Eevee evolutions, sustains constant demand within the Eeveelution segment. Japanese McDonald’s promos occupy a category of their own, followed by collectors of rare promotional material and distinct from the main expansions.