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What Was The First Pokemon Card

First Edition Holographic Charizard

Card & Autograph Collecting : What Was the First Pokemon Card?

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $24,000

The #4 Charizard is by far the most desirable of all the first edition Pokémon cards.

Charizard made its first appearance in the Pokémon Red and Blue video games released for the Nintendo Game Boy and Game Boy Color back in the mid-90s and trainers have been relying on the character’s overpowering fire and flying abilities to win battles ever since.

Just how powerful are its fire abilities?


Well, simply refer to the bottom of the card’s front and you can see that Charizard is capable of melting boulders and starting forest fires with ease.

Charizard’s appeal as a dragon and one of the more rare cards certainly adds to its popularity but I think where this card gets an extra boost in value comes from the fact that Charizard appeared on the cover art of the Pokémon Red video game:

That additional exposure greatly increased the character’s notoriety and has driven up the value of this card similar to the effect we see with the Garbage Pail Kids card, Adam Bomb, and its status as the original cover art for that series.

Regardless of why this card is so popular, its value will continue to soar just like the lovable flying dragon creature itself.

Super Secret Battle No 1 Trainer

The answer to “What’s the rarest Pokémon card of all time?”


Sold for $90,000 in July 2020

Its unlikely youve heard of Super Secret Battle No. 1 Trainer, and extremely unlikely youve ever seen a copy in person. When it comes to rare Pokémon cards, there are very few cards rarer than this.

No. 1 Trainer is a holographic promotional card awarded to finalists in the Secret Super Battle tournament held in Tokyo, Japan in 1999. To earn a place in the competitions finals, which were held in a secret location, players had to first win a regional tournament. Their prize was the No. 1 Trainer card, which granted them access to the finals.

The cards text translates to: The Pokémon Card Game Official Tournament’s champion is recognised here, and this honour is praised. By presenting this card, you may gain preferential entry into the Secret Super Battle. The card features the Japanese logo for the Pocket Monsters Trading Card Game, along with artwork of original generation Pokémon Mewtwo by illustrator Hideki Kazama.

This is a card so rare and valuable that Indiana Jones probably had to escape a crumbling temple with it at some point. Its counterpart cards No.2 Trainer and No. 3 Trainer, similarly awarded to winners in Japanese Pokémon tournaments during the late 1990s, are almost as rare and valuable.


Pokemon Sword And Shield: Faster Hatching

Another key element to Pokemon shiny hunting would be the ability Flame Body. Certain fire type Pokemon can have this ability. While in combat, this ability has the chance to burn the attackers when they are using physical attacks. Although, Flame Body has another out of combat ability. In the overworld, Flame Body lets eggs hatch half the number of required steps. The player will need a Pokemon with Flame Body in their party while hatching the eggs for this to work. Theres currently 7 Pokemon in Pokemon Sword and Shield with this ability. Those Pokemon are Litwick, Lampent, Chandelure, Carkol, Coalossal, Sizzilipede, and Centiscorch. Carkol is the easiest to get in this group, as players can find them spawning in the Galar Mine. Once players have a Carkol with Flame Body, eggs will hatch much faster.

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Advancing To A New Age

In July 2001 an episode of the anime aired in Japan featuring a Pokémon never previously seen – Kecleon. Soon, Kecleon and others like Wynaut, Azurill, Duskull and Volbeat showed up in theaters in two Pikachushorts while Wailmer, Latias and Latios were featured in the fifth Pokémon movie. During the Silver Conference Ash battled Harrison, a Trainer from Littleroot Town in Hoenn. Professor Birch, along withotherPokémon, made a cameo in Johto Photo Finish. Through this, it became known that the next generation of Pokémon was just around the corner.

Indeed, a major overhaul of the main game series occurred when Pokémon arrived on the Game Boy Advance on November 21, 2002 when Ruby and Sapphire Versions were released in Japan. Trainers found themselves in the southern land called Hoenn where 135 new Pokémon were waiting to be discovered. The games reached North America on March 18, 2003 and had many new features, the most prominent being Pokémon Contests, Double Battles, Pokémon Abilities and Natures for each Pokémon, along with the reform of effort values and individual values. Also introduced in these versions were more types of weather and two new villainous teams, Team Magma and Team Aqua. Due to the extensive changes to the system, however, this generation was not compatible with earlier generations.

Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire


How Value Is Determined

First edition English Pikachu Pokemon card 60/64

The surge in Pokémon card prices doesnt necessarily mean every card is worth a lot of money or will be.

I think prices will rise for some cards, but obviously not all cards, which is what some people dont get, Caitlin Sidhu explained. If cards are still in print, they wont rise in price. Once the card is out of print it may go up in price, but its not guaranteed.

Jason A., a collector from East Tennessee who declined to give his last name, compared it to the stock market: You can take a bet on a cards value. Is it going to increase? Is it going to flop? Or is it just gonna stay steady?

There are plenty of cards out there that when they first got released are still the same price that they were back then, he said.

A cards scarcity, condition and the actual Pokémon on it all play a role in its value. First edition holographic cards released as part of Pokémons first print in 1999 command high prices especially Charizard.


Why is he always so coveted? In that first set, he was objectively the most powerful, with both the highest HP and the strongest attack. But maybe the reason for his appeal is more obvious than that.

I mean, hes a dragon. Kids love dragons, Garcia said. In the cartoon show, he was kind of rebellious, did whatever he wanted.

Kalvin Foley, after losing his eBay bid, said he was able to finally obtain his Rainbow Vmax Charizard in a private sale.

Only 39 were initially released through a Japanese comic contest in 1998.

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Top First Edition Pokemon Cards: Summary

As you can see, the best first edition Pokémon cards contain some of the biggest names, and theres a distinct preference for the 1999 set. Most of the shiny cards have been long forgotten, and PSA 10 graded shadowless versions often have fewer than 100 copies.

That leads to increased rarity, and the extreme prices were seeing this year. Its only expected to continue as time goes by.

Theres been a massive influx of interest in the hobby in recent months, probably fueled by the record-breaking Charizard purchase for the most part.

For the best investments, its hard to beat the original 151, or exceptional cards such as the Neo Genesis 1st Edition Holo Lugia.

A New Light Shines On Alola

Two follow-up games, Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, were announced during a Nintendo Direct presentation on June 6, 2017. The games were released exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS on November 17, 2017, featuring an alternate storyline set in Sun and Moon’s world, and will feature new Pokémon not available in the original games.


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Seven’s A Lucky Number

The seventh generation of Pokémon was announced on February 27, 2016, the franchise’s 20th anniversary with the new games Pokémon Sun and Moon and was released on November 18, 2016.

The anime was quick to follow with a new series, Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon. As with the previous four series, Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon began with Ash Ketchum, headed off to the new region with his Pikachu. His previous companions, Clemont, Bonnie and Serena, have left the series. Ash Ketchum heads off to a new region, Alola, wearing a new set of clothes with his partner Pikachu. He receives a Z-Ring and becomes a student at the Pokémon School on Melemele Island. Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles joined him in the series as his classmates. For the first time in the anime’s history, Ash wins a game-original Pokémon League and becomes a Champion.

The seventh generation broke several trends within the core series, such as abandoning HM moves, replacing Gyms with island challenge trials, and introducing Legendary Pokémon part of an evolutionary line.

Shiny Secret Rare Charizard V: $500

Pokemon 1st ever Pokemon card set Blue back TOPSUNS

If you want to get into Pokemon pack opening, but dont want to shell out for the older packs, there are tons of new cards with similar record-setting prices that have come out in just the past two years. One of the recent premium TCG sets in the game was Champions Path, and certain cards in it were especially rare since you could only get packs through special products like Elite Trainer Boxes and Pin Collector packs.


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The absolute highest value cards in this set are both Charizards, one being a rainbow foil V-Max card and the other being a shiny Charizard V with black scales. Both quickly reached prices around $500, and sites like TCGPlayer still remain at the same $500 price tag.

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First Edition Holographic Zapdos

Estimated PSA 10 Gem Mint Value: $1,400

Together with Articuno and Moltres, this electric and flying creature is one of the three Legendary birds of Kanto.


Only seen during thunderstorms, Zapdos will create lighting bolts and loud cracking sounds as it flaps its wings when airborne alerting everyone in the area to its presence.

The yellow and black spiked feathers that surround its body make Zapdos look just like the blasts of electricity it creates.

The Language Of The Pokemon Card

Most Pokemon cards are printed in either English or Japanese. Japanese Pokemon cards have different set names and numbers to English cards, so theyre often considered separately, and have different valuations applied to them.

However, Pokemon cards are also printed in other languages, such as German, French, and Dutch. These cards will have the same card number as their English varieties, but are often worth slightly less than the English version of the Pokemon card.

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Most Expensive Pokmon Cards In Stockx History

Ian is a content creator at StockX with a focus on trading cards and collectibles.

With Pokémon sales sending shockwaves throughout secondary markets, we listed the 10 Most Expensive and Rare Pokemon Cards in StockX history. Read more below.

With Pokémon sales sending shockwaves throughout secondary markets, we listed the 10 Most Expensive and Rare Pokemon Cards in StockX history. Read more below.

Over the last 12 months Pokémon cards have once again made a comeback. Many people who used to collect the Pocket Monsters as kids are now going back to build their dream collections. Plus, a new generation of Pokémon trainers are being brought into the Pokémon card hobby through their parents and online influencers like Logan Paul. This surge in attention has caused a surge in demand and price. Several Pokémon card sales records have been shattered since the beginning of 2021, including the most expensive Pokémon card in the history of the hobby. Below is a list of the 10 Most Expensive and Rare Pokemon Cards on StockX right now, as well as the three most expensive Pokémon in history.

Identify Type And Assess Rarity

1999 Pokemon Growlithe 1st First Edition Base Shadowless ...

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.

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Pokemon Japanese Topsun Holofoil Blastoise

Sold in October, 2020 for $20,100

The 1995 Japanese Topsun cards are some of the most interesting early Pokemon cards and were distributed in packs of apple-flavored gum by Top-Seika.

Collectors could find these cards in one of three versions: blue-back, green-back, and prism holofoil.

While 150 different characters appeared on the blue-back and green-back cards, only 16 received a prism holofoil version.

Though these Topsun cards contain a trademark date of 1995, most collectors agree that the company did not distribute them until 1997.

And that makes sense because even the official Pokemon Trading Card Game didnt debut in Japan until 1996.

The Blastoise prism holo is one of the most desirable Topsun cards and features the same imagery used for the cover art of the Pokemon Blue videogame released on the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan in 1996.

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Unlimited Cards Are Well Less Limited

Just like its name, 1st Edition came first, then Shadowless, then Unlimited. Unlimited cards all come with the shiny holographic features from Pokémons first run, but without 1st Edition stamps, thus without the inherent value of 1st Edition status. Plus, they are more common than Shadowless cards, making Shadowless versions more valuable than their shadowed brethren. Remember, rarity and desirability often go hand in hand in the hobby. Unlimited cards were, and still are, more widely available, easily attainable, and sadly, less valuable.

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Pokemon The First English Cards

In October 1996, the Pokemon franchise made its first foray outside of the video game genre with the release of the much anticipated Pokemon trading card game. The game was then released in America in December 1998.

The principle behind the game was simple. Each player acted as a Pokemon trader and assumed their position in the board. Each player had to pick a set of cards from the deck and attack the other players Pokemon with one of his cards. Once a Pokemon had sustained enough damage, it would be knocked out of the game.

Each set of card had to contain at least on basic Pokemon. A basic Pokemon is a Pokemon that hasnt gone through any evolution yet. These are the only types of Pokemons that were allowed to start.

Evolved Pokemons, on the other hand, could only be played against a lower level Pokemon. As Pokemons evolved, their power percentage became higher and their attack were also stronger. Baby Pokemon cards, which were another version of basic pokemons, made their apparition in Neo Genesis. Their powers were unusual and they could cause devastating attacks even if they had lower HP. All these various types of cards brought variety to the gameplay and made the game more interesting.

Why Are Pokmon Card Prices Rising

FIRST 3 POKEMON CARDS SETS EVER MADE FROM 1999! [Opening Base, Jungle, & Fossil]

About two weeks ago, 34-year-old Oregon resident Kalvin Foley wanted to buy a rare Pokémon card on eBay. It was a rainbow Vmax card featuring Charizard, one of the most popular Pokémon. He was attempting to win it at the end of an auction, one of the most adrenaline-inducing parts of bidding. The card, which started off at $100, began to steadily increase. It jumped to $250. Then $300. Then $375.

Im just watching it throughout the day, Foley recounted. When the 1-minute countdown began, he entered in his max bid of $425. And as soon as I did that, I think everybody else did, because it went from $375 all the way up to, like $550, he said.

Now, he thought, hed never be able to get the card. Foley said that only a year ago, it might have been worth around $250-$300 roughly half the price.

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Back To Kanto And Onward To The Battle Frontier

On January 29, 2004, two new games were released in Japan: Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen. They arrived in North America on September 9, 2004, and were remakes of Pokémon Red and Green which brought the games up to Generation III standards, as well as adding wireless connectivity and a new region the Sevii Islands. These games also gave the event PokémonDeoxystwo additional forms, which could only be obtained by moving Deoxys to a FireRed or LeafGreen cartridge.

Not yet finished with the Hoenn story, Game Freak developed a third version to complement Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Pokémon Emerald. This game was released in Japan on September 16, 2004, and in North America on May 1, 2005. Emerald featured the same wireless connectivity as FireRed and LeafGreen, as well as an updated version of Hoenn with many new features, including the Hoenn Battle Frontier, the ability to re-battle Gym Leaders, an altered plot, and animations for all Pokémon, as in Crystal.

The animecaught up with both the Generation I remakes and Emerald by having the group travel back to Kanto and face the Kanto Battle Frontier there. During this season’s time two more movies were produced: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew and Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea .

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