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How To Tell First Edition Pokemon

First Editions Beyond Base Set

How To Tell If Your Pokemon Cards Are 1st Edition?

Pokémon continued to use the first edition symbol to identify first print runs for approximately the next three years. During that time, 10 Pokémon sets were issued, ending with the Neo Destiny set. The only set during that three-year period that did not include cards carrying the first edition symbol was Base Set 2, which was composed of reprints from the Base Set and Jungle sets.

In the 20 years that followed the Neo Destiny set, Pokémon has not issued English-language cards with first edition stamps. However, in 2001 when the Pokémon VS set was released, first edition symbols were added to the first print runs of Japanese-language cards. The practice of printing first edition Japanese-language Pokémon cards continued until the release of the 20th Anniversary set in 2016. As opposed to the English issues, the first edition releases of Japanese sets are often far more common than their unlimited counterparts.

The first edition symbol used on Japanese cards is different from the English-language version. It is composed of a large number 1 sitting on top of the word EDITION, which is printed in all capital letters between two horizontal lines. The symbol appears in the lower-right corner of Pokémon and Trainer cards. The first edition symbol did not appear on Japanese Energy cards.

Will Pokemon Cards Go Up In Value

Pokemon cards will increase in value over time. 1st edition Pokemon trading cards are the most desirable to collectors, though in order to sell for anywhere close to thousands of dollars they must be officially graded in mint condition. The price of almost any Pokemon card will increase somewhat over time.


How To Tell If A Pokmon Card Is A First Edition

Posted on 6/3/2022

Identifying First Editions can help you to know if a Pokémon card is worth $10 or $10,000.

Trading card collectors know that understanding the hobby requires understanding a lot of lingo. That is certainly true when it comes to collecting Pokémon cards. Any discussion of Pokémon cards could include mentions of such terms as holos, reverse holos, shadowless cards, gray stamps, secret rares and rainbow rares.

First Edition is another term used in the world of Pokémon card collecting, especially when referring to the most valuable cards. It is not unheard of for first edition Pokémon cards, especially those from the earliest sets, to sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet first edition cards often look very similar to their less valuable counterparts. Knowing the difference can help you to know if a Pokémon card is worth $10 or $10,000.

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What Makes First Edition Shadowless Base Set Chansey So Valuable

Expecting to see a big green dino-toad next?! You would be forgiven for wondering why Chansey goes in a number four!

But just look at that beautifully clear holographic area. Its very easy to spot print imperfections or scratches. This is why 1st Edition Chansey is incredibly difficult to grade, and also why only 48 PSA 10s exist. The rarity drives the value here, and collectors want to own the rarest cards. In my opinion, this card absolutely deserves its price tag.

1999 1st Edition Base Set Chansey PSA Population Report

How To Know If Pokmon Cards Are Fake

How to Tell if a Pokemon Card is 1st Edition? (Helpful Guide ...

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Many people enjoy collecting Pokémon cards. Unfortunately, there are some scam artists who will try to sell fake cards to enthusiastic collectors. However, their fakes are not as close to the real thing as they want you to think. An example of a legitimate card is one that is real. To authenticate legit cards, keep reading.

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Base Set: Unlimited Edition

There were reportedly six separate printings of the Unlimited Edition of the Base Set. The first five print runs had a copyright line that read: © 1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999 Wizards.. These five print runs are completely identical, with no way to differentiate between them. The final print run, which was only available in the United Kingdom, can be differentiated by a change to the copyright line which reads, ©1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999-2000 Wizards. Cards from the sixth print run are much rarer due to their limited geographical distribution.

Unlimited Edition made a number of aesthetic changes to the face of the cards. The overall card appears to be a lighter and brighter printing than the previous Limited Editions. The drop shadow was added behind the art box to add some depth to the card. In addition, certain text, such as the Pokémons HP value, was set in a bold typeface.

With five to six printings, these cards are by far the most common Base Set cards in existence, and their prices reflect that. Unlimited Edition was printed to meet the insane demand of a public that became obsessed with Pokémon. A Charizard from these printings could fetch about $500 in Near Mint condition from a collector.

Can 1st Edition Pokmon Cards Have A Shadow

The shadow to the right of the image frame will never appear on 1st Editions or Shadowless cards. Its an Unlimited card if you see that shadowing. If the shadow is missing, youll either have a 1st Edition or a Shadowless card, depending on the rarity. To be certain, look for the stamp on the document.

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First Edition Holographic Venusaur

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $2,200

Venusaur, the final evolved form of one of the original starter Pokémon, Bulbasaur, is a dual-type grass and poison Pokémon with a noticeably large flower that protrudes from its back.

Because the creature uses that flower to absorb energy from the sun’s rays, it is constantly on the move in search of more sunlight.

Venusaur also serves as the mascot of the Pokémon Green video game making it one of the most recognizable of first edition Pokémon:

What Do Shadowless Pokemon Cards Mean

Pokemon Card Q& A: How to tell if my Pokemon card is 1st edition

Besides the omission of the stamp, for all intents and purposes, Shadowless cards are mirror images of 1st Edition cards. In short, Shadowless cards are simply the first run after the inaugural release. But then why are they called Shadowless? you ask. Because 1st Edition cards, too, are shadowless.


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Top 5 First Edition Pokemon Cards

Any shiny, shadowless 1st Edition Pokémon card will be reasonably valuable, but there are a few which manage to stand out from the crowd.

Buy on eBay

Lets switch things up, moving on to a set that was released the year after. Lugia was the cover star for the next round of Pokémon games, and while he might not match up to many older options, its still a card that is highly prized by collectors.

A white background is the source of a number of issues that are also seen with the 1999 Chansey card below, leading to higher values than the norm. There are often problems with the lining too, so there are only 41 PSA 10 examples out of almost 1300 that have been submitted.

Why Is 1st Edition Charizard So Expensive

You maý have heard of these crazy stories of First Edition Charizard cards being sold for tons of money. Some have sold in excess of $1,000,000. Have you ever wondered why this is? Well, let us explain!


First, Charizard is a popular character. People love him. He was featured in a prominent role in the original Pokemon series. He was also one of the most powerful Pokemon in the show. Granted, his card isnt especially powerful, but people werent playing with Pokemon cards back then.

He is also incredibly rare. Easily one of the rarest Pokemon cards in the original base set.

What really causes his value to be so high, however, is the fact that 1st Edition Charizards were not printed that extensively. When the First Edition Pokemon Trading Card game base set came out, the game wasnt all that popular. In fact, many people were not paying attention to it.

It wasnt until the unlimited run that people started to snap up Pokemon cards like crazy. This means that very few 1st Edition Charizards were ever produced.

Couple this all with the fact that many of these 1st Edition cards have been lost to time, and it isnt difficult to see why the cost of them ends up being so high. There just isnt enough of them around.


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First Edition Cards In Review

Whether you are a fan of them or not, theres no debating that first edition Pokémon cards are some of the hottest cards in non-sports card collecting.

The video games, television shows, and the cards themselves transformed Pokémon into a worldwide phenomenon with an enormous fan base.

And many of those kids who grew up with these cards are now adults with more spending power able to pay big bucks for them in top condition.

It doesnt look like that trend will slow anytime soon as these cards have found their place as one of the most popular non-sports sets in the hobby.


Why Is Charizard So Expensive

Shadowless Pokemon Cards: The New Collector

Charizard Pokémon Trading Card Game cards are extremely popular and certain cards can be worth a large amount of money, thanks to nostalgia. … Because of this, Charizard has earned a special place in the hearts of players, and this nostalgia has helped the powerful Fire-type’s Pokémon TCG cards skyrocket in value.

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How Much Is A 1st Edition Pikachu Card Worth

This is going to be dependent on the set that the Pikachu comes from, as well as the condition of the card.

We are going to assume that when people ask this question, they are talking about the Pikachu card that comes from the base set. This was a common card, but it was not especially a rare card. You could find several of them inside of a booster box. However, this doesnt mean that the card doesnt hold value.

When the Pokemon Trading Card game was launched, it become quickly apparent that Pikachu was one of the most popular characters in the franchise. You can thank the TV show for that. As a result, a lot of these Pikachu cards ended up being played with.


This meant that they either became damaged or they were lost to time. The result is that a card that was fairly common started to become uncommon. After all, nobody would have been able to predict the value that these cards would have many decades down the line.

The value of 1st Edition Pikachu card nowadays will be dependent on the condition of the card. A PSA 10 could go for $1,500, but the price falls sharply after this. A PSA 7 would command about $150. Go too low with the grading, and the price may end up being in the $10s.

Is Weighing Pokemon Packs More Cost

Arguably, yes, weighing Pokemon cards is most cost effective but its not guaranteed. If you are purchasing 10 packs, individually selected after weighing, then you are spending around $4 plus the tax on each for a ballpark figure of $50. If your weighing technique is good then you might be able to get 7 -10 Ultrarare cards.

Now, if you purchase a Booster box then you are looking at around an $85 investment and this is going to guarantee the following:

  • 108 uncommon cards
  • 36 rare cards
  • 216 common cards

So, as you can see, a lot is going to depend on your talent for weighing the cards and this does take practice. Dont expect results overnight, but if you work on it the general consensus seems to be that it is a cost-effective hack for getting Ultrarare cards without having to break the bank. If spending the extra money is not a problem, however, then you might want to consider going with the guaranteed option.

It boils down to a question of whether you want to invest the time or just spend the extra money, but as many players find that hunting rares this way is a bit like a treasure hunt you might want to give it a try first to see for yourself. Its just another way to play your favorite game!

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Identify Type And Assess Rarity

The first step to identify if a card is potentially worth anything substantial is to check its type and rarity. In other words, how likely the card is to come across from any given booster pack or special event, and if it has any special characteristics, such as card material or Pokemon types.

There are a few indicators of rarity on any given card, though theyre quite subject to change depending on when said card was printed. A marker near the bottom of the card or near its name will indicate rarity: a circle means the card is common, a diamond means its less common, and stars mean its rare. More stars or with combinations of letters or symbols mean extra rare, including if those symbols are in the name or elsewhere on the card. Other characteristics that can up the rarity include: a higher printed number than there should be in a given printed set holographic artwork or reverse holographic, in which everything but the artwork is holographic artwork that takes up the full card artwork wherein the creature doesnt cast a shadow and any shining characteristics, not to be confused with holographic.

While rarity isnt the only factor in appraising value, its certainly a major factor: Some of the highest-selling cards worth tens of thousands of dollars, or considered priceless from lack of supply, are only so because of small rarities like misprints or typos.

Best First Edition Pokemon Cards

How to Spot Differences Between Shadowless, Unlimited & 1st edition Pokemon Cards [EASY]

So now that weve examined what first edition Pokemon cards are and why they are so valuable, lets take a look at some of the best cards from this set that you can get.

Note that we tried to put these cards into order in terms of values, but know that these values can fluctuate and change constantly, so the order might change in the future.

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Is Weighing Pokemon Packs Illegal

The good news is that weighing Pokemon packs is not, indeed, illegal. That said, if you are going to try this for yourself then you will likely want to do this at a large, local store which carries them, such as Wal-Mart or Target. If you try to do it at a local comic book or gaming store then you may be asked to stop. Worse, is another Pokemon player may well give you an earful.

It is a bit of a contentious issue among players, as part of the appeal is that when you purchase a pack you dont know what you are getting. This adds a bit of a luck factor to the game and some people feel that you are taking this away from the game by weighing packs in advance to locate rarer cards.

Whether or not this is true, of course, we cant say as everyone has their own personal opinions on this issue, with many players not caring either way.

Were just here to give you the facts. With that in mind, is weighing packs a more cost-effective way to obtain rare cards? Lets do the math and see!

Pokemon » Set Symbols

The most common way to organize Pokemon cards is by set. To identify the set, look for a little symbol at the bottom of the card, next to the card number. There are a bunch of these set symbols 5-6 sets are released every year, each with a different set symbol, and theyve been printing cards since 1999!

Sword & Shield Series

First Edition Holographic Nidoking

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,500

Nidoking is a dual-type poison and ground Pokémon that is the final evolved form of Nidoran.

With its sharp teeth, pointy ears, plated underside, claws and venomous horn that protrudes from its forehead, Nidoking is obviously a very intimidating reptilian creature.

However, its powerful tail is the primary weapon of choice to smash its enemies or create the spacing Nidoking needs to execute one of its devastating charges.

High grade specimens of this card can sell for around $1,500 or more.

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Pokemon First Edition Charizard Shadowless Holo #4

Charizard takes the top spot in terms of the most valuable first edition Pokemon card.

The main reason for this is that the character of Charizard is one of the most popular characters in the Pokemon universe. Its also a mightily powerful card, which makes it an especially popular card for collectors. You can learn more at our article on Charizard cards.

You can see that Charizard has some of the most powerful and destructive abilities in the game.

Another reason why its so popular is that Charizard appeared on the cover of the video game. Its also a bit rarer than the rest of the cards, so you might see this card sell for well over a six-figure sum.

This particular card in the image is also a shadowless card AND a holo card, which only further increases the value of this gem.

I would not be surprised to see the values of this card even increase as time goes by.

How To Differentiate Base Set Cards From Shadowless Ones

Pokemon HD: How To Make A First Edition Pokemon Card

Shadowless cards are different when compared to the base set cards, however, they also lack the shadow on the picture frame. So it can get very confusing if you want to know how to tell if a Pokémon card is the first edition if you also have a shadowless card. The nice thing here is that you do have a difference. The first edition stamp is not available on the shadowless cards, because they were released at a later date. Because of that, it becomes a lot easier to identify whether you have a shadowless card or a first edition one.

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