>>4649817625yo here, I have this book still and it helped little kid me feel like a real fan, having a map of kanto "the pokemon world" and all the mons. Love this book, its full of soul. I spent as much time pouring through its pages as looking at the cards probably.
I also had some pokemon pogs that were real metal but idk if they were official.
And I had those topps cards with the really kickass holographic marbling & show trivia on them, had some sailor moon ones of those too.
And not the pic related one, but a TCG guide, Fossil Expansion guide, and Pokemon Player's guide by sandwich islands publishing. these books and also magazines like old nintendo power and electronic gaming monthly are my childhood, especially the ones that got rained on years ago, as they have a stronger scent that really takes me back. I also had the official nintendo players guide for NES that got me super interested in castlevania. young people are missing out with lack of print media, physical copies, and tactile real things to grow attachment to it feels like.
