The Mankey included with the first volume of Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake is a fascinating vintage Japanese Pokémon card. Unlike cards from a regular expansion pack, this card was distributed as a book bonus, making its original method of distribution quite different from most vintage cards.
Its distinctive artwork, limited distribution, and connection to the Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake manga series have made it an interesting target for vintage Pokémon collectors.
Basic Card Information
| Pokémon | Mankey |
|---|---|
| Level | Lv. 7 |
| HP | 30 |
| Series | Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake Volume 1 Bonus |
| Type | Japanese Vintage Promo |
What Is the Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake Mankey?
This Mankey was included as a bonus with Volume 1 of the Japanese manga Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake.
This is an important distinction for collectors. The card was not pulled from a regular expansion pack. Instead, it was distributed as a book bonus, giving it a completely different collecting history from standard set cards.
The Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake series was designed around stories involving Pokémon cards, and each volume was associated with a Pokémon card. The Mankey from Volume 1 is therefore an especially interesting piece of Pokémon TCG history.
The Artwork Is One of Its Best Features
The artwork was illustrated by Kagemaru Himeno, one of the artists who has worked on Pokémon cards since the early days of the Pokémon TCG.
Rather than simply presenting Mankey as a standard Pokémon illustration, the card is closely connected to the story and manga concept behind Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake. This gives the card a very different feeling from a typical expansion card.
For collectors, this kind of story-driven artwork is one of the reasons the Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake cards remain so appealing.
For comparison, here is the Mankey from the Japanese Jungle expansion:
The contrast between the regular Jungle Mankey and the Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake version makes the special nature of the promotional artwork even more obvious.
A Japanese-Only Vintage Collector Card
This card is particularly interesting for collectors outside Japan because it does not simply represent another version of a card found in an English expansion set.
The combination of Japanese distribution, manga-related history, and distinctive artwork makes it a collectible piece of Japanese Pokémon TCG history.
For international collectors building a collection of unusual Japanese vintage cards, cards like this can be much more interesting than simply collecting the standard Base Set, Jungle, or Fossil cards.
How Was Mankey Used in the Original Card Game?
The card itself was not particularly powerful as a competitive Pokémon.
Its Spy Pokémon Power could occasionally be useful for checking cards that had been placed in the opponent’s Prize cards. However, this was a niche use rather than something that made Mankey a major competitive card.
Today, its value is primarily connected to its collectible characteristics rather than its tournament performance.
Mankey Price Guide
The following prices are approximate reference values and can vary considerably depending on condition, centering, availability, grading, and the current vintage Pokémon market.
| Condition | Approximate Value |
|---|---|
| Near Mint | About $50–$55 |
| Moderately Played | About $30–$35 |
| PSA 10 | About $270 |
These figures should be treated as a general guide rather than a guaranteed market price. Vintage Japanese Pokémon card prices can move quickly, particularly when a scarce card receives renewed attention from international collectors.
Where to Find the Mankey
Because this was a book bonus rather than a regular expansion card, finding a clean copy can be more difficult than finding an ordinary Jungle or Fossil card.
If you are looking for one, eBay is one of the easiest places for international collectors to check current listings.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an eBay Partner Network affiliate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
It is also worth checking completed sales rather than looking only at asking prices. A seller may list a rare vintage card at a high price without actually selling it.
Why Collectors Are Interested in This Card
There are several reasons this Mankey deserves attention from vintage Pokémon collectors.
- It was distributed as a manga book bonus rather than through a regular expansion pack.
- It features distinctive artwork by Kagemaru Himeno.
- It is connected directly to the Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake manga series.
- It is a Japanese vintage promotional card with no identical English counterpart.
- The PSA 10 population is very small compared with many common vintage cards.
- The entire Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake series has attracted renewed interest from collectors.
The PSA 10 population is reported to be only around 43 copies. The reported gem rate is also relatively low, although the small number of graded examples means that population and grading-rate statistics should be interpreted carefully.
The Unopened Book Is Also a Collector’s Item
One particularly interesting aspect of this card is that it was originally included with a book.
As a result, some copies of the original book can still be found with the promotional card attached or preserved inside the book.
For collectors, an unopened or complete copy can be considerably more interesting than the card alone because it preserves the original distribution format.
If you happen to come across an old copy of Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake at a Japanese secondhand bookstore or Book Off, it is worth checking carefully to see whether the original card is still included.
A Great Card for Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake Collectors
I still occasionally reread Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake because of the nostalgia surrounding the series. The Mankey card is especially fun because the artwork feels like a snapshot taken directly from that world.
For collectors who remember the manga, this is more than simply another old Japanese Pokémon card. It is a piece of the story itself.
The relatively small number of graded copies also makes it an interesting card to watch as interest in vintage Japanese Pokémon continues to grow.
Related Guides
- Birthday Pikachu: Pokémon Card ni Natta Wake
- Most Valuable Vintage Japanese Pokémon Cards
- Natta Wake Psyduck Guide
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