Two years ago, we wrote some posts covering card pricing on Pokemon's marquee sets, including 1st Edition Base Set, Shadowless Base Set, and Unlimited Base Set. Since that time, Pokemon card prices have soared. With Pokemon's 25th Anniversary approaching, we revisit card pricing for these key sets.
Pokemon TCG 1st Edition Base Set
The 1999 1st Edition Base Set for the Pokemon TCG is the most sought after set in the hobby. This is the set that started it all. Finding these cards were difficult even when released in 1999 and now top graded cards are achieving new price records in the secondary market
What happened to pricing over the last 2 years?
In 2018 a PSA 10 graded 1st Edition Set would auction for $90,000-$110,000 versus the most recent sale in 2021 would garner north of $650,000, or a 600% growth versus just 2 years ago. Sealed 1st Edition Base Set boxes are also setting new records. This is the marquee set in the hobby and as collectors continue to circle these cards in high grades and take them off the market, prices continue to climb
What are the key cards seeing the most growth?
Not surprising to many Pokemon Card Collectors, but the 1st Edition Base Set Charizard in PSA 10 grade is one of the most sought after cards in the original base set and has seen tremendous growth in the last 2 years, from $20,000-$40,000 now to the $300,000-$400,000 range. With the influx of demand and collectors into the hobby, there also has been massive growth in some of the 'common' cards as well, including the 1st Edition Red Cheeks Pikachu which just 2 years ago was selling for $250-350 and now in 2021 sells for $13,000-$15,000.
What is in store for the future of the 1999 Pokemon 1st Edition Base Set?
No one can tell the future, but with the growth in the hobby and the limited nature and scarcity of the 1st Edition Base Set Cards in PSA 10 and other high grades, expect these cards to continue to stay pricey as Pokemon enthusiasts continue their never-ending journey of trying to 'catch them all' !
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If you are looking to start a collection, the first item on your list should be to set some goals. To use card collecting as an example; ask yourself what set do I want to collect? What conditions or types of cards do I want to purchase? Goals can be just about anything, but they are super important in building a collection because they provide discipline around your purchases. Also - ask yourself if you want to set serious goals or fun goals. Is your collection just for the fun of the hobby or are you looking to purchase something that may increase in value in the future. Regardless of goal, choose something that inspires you! Here's one Pokemon Youtuber who's goal is to collect 1 million Bidoof Cards. Here's a site for folks who collect and purchase the artwork from the game Magic the Gathering. Setting goals is really a critical step as you start any collection.
So you've set your goals and are starting to collect, but how do you execute on this new plan. The key is to set a budget and stick to it. Time and time again impulse purchases and overspending take a fun, enjoyable collecting experience and derail it. The last thing you want to do is accumulate a large collection and have to desperately sell it one day because of unforeseen expenses. Set a monthly budget for your hobby collection in the same way that you budget for other expenses (rent, food, etc). If you are eyeing an item above your budget limit, hold back purchases for a few months and save up for that special item, it will make it that much more enjoyable when you can achieve the collection you've been slowly building.
One of the best things about building a collection is participating in a community of individuals who have similar interests. You can build new friendships or learn about facets of the hobby you didn't know much about before. As a game store, we frequently read blogs, watch youtubers, and spend time with our customers and it enriches the entire experience of collecting. For Pokemon, some great sites to stay in touch with the community include Pokemon TCG Reddit, PokeBeach, and Bulbapedia. Participating in the community will educate you on the hobby and help you set and achieve your goals.
]]>**Check out of 2021 Pricing Update Here
So you started collecting Pokemon Cards 20 years ago and kept them in mint condition because you knew they could pay off your student loans one day right???
Well, don't we all wish that was the case! Even if you didn't here's our TOP #5 Most Valuable Cards from the 1st Edition Base Set. Don't know what cards you have or which set they are from? Check out our guides to figure it out (Pokemon 1st Edition Base Set, Shadowless Base Set, Unlimited Base Set).
First things first; a Top #5 list would be boring if we just listed all the holographic cards 1 by 1. Instead, we thought it would be interesting to pick the best in each class. So, our list ranks the Most Valuable Holographic Card, Non-holo Rare, Uncommon, Common, and Trainer. Everyone knows if they find a long-lost Charizard Holo in their closet to quickly sleeve the card and cash in, but doing the ranking this way might show you some sleeper cards out there you were unaware of, so check out below if you have any of these in your collection!
Charizard 1st Edition Base Set
No surprises here, the 1st Edition Base Set Charizard is one of the most iconic cards in the hobby. Collectors everywhere seek this one out for their collections. Have one is mint condition from your childhood??? You may have stumbled upon $20,000+ which can put a dent in those student loans.
PSA 10 Graded Value = $20,000-$25,000
Dragonair 1st Edition Base Set
Moving to the rares, Dragonair remains one of the highest earners in the set, typically selling for 1.5-2x what many other rares sell for.
PSA 10 Graded Value = $800-$1,000
Wartortle 1st Edition Base Set
Wartortle is a bit of a sleeper in the set. Despite being an uncommon, Wartortle is historically very tough to find in Gem Mint Condition. Some people believe this is due to the uncommon card slot in the original packs being in the front or back, leaving it open to frequent damage.
PSA 10 Graded Value = $600-$800
Pikachu Red Cheeks Version 1st Edition Base Set
Pikachu remains one of the most popular Pokemon worldwide and despite this card being a Common it can typically sell for 100's of dollars in Gem Mint Condition. Interesting to note about this card is the 'Red Cheeks' on Pikachu which was later changed to the color yellow in the Unlimited Set. You can only find the 'Red Cheeks' Variant in the 1st Edition Base Set and Shadowless Base Set and they typically sell for 2x the price of the Yellow Cheeks version and are considered more rare.
PSA 10 Graded Value = $300-$400
Devolution Spray 1st Edition Base Set
Another Sleeper Card in the set, Devolution Spray remains one of the toughest cards to find and grade in Gem Mint Condition and due to that it will consistently fetch high 100's or $1,000 in auctions. While lower grades will garner lower prices (PSA 9 $50-100), this is still a card to hold onto or dust off if you find it lying around your parents place.
PSA 10 Graded Value = $800-$1,000
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When we think of the Pokemon Cards of our childhood, we are typically referring to the Unlimited Base Set released in 1999. After massive success with the 1st Edition Base Set and Shadowless Base Set, Wizards of the Coast (in charge of Pokemon TCG at the time) was scrambling to meet customer demand for the new hobby. The Unlimited Base Set was the response to just that. Unlike the 1st Edition Base Set (discussed here) and Shadowless Base Set (here) which both had one limited print run, the Unlimited Set was printed to demand and had 8-9 total print runs. This has a large impact on both availability of the cards and how collectible they are.
A card from the Unlimited Base Set has a 'shadowed' look on the right side of the image. So, take a look at the photo on the far left (Blastoise) and on the right hand side of the image you will see a shadowing in the design. Displayed below are pictures of an Unlimited Base Set Card (left), a Shadowless Card (middle), and a Shadowless 1st Edition Card on the right
Due to the much larger multiple print runs, typically when we think of the Pokemon Cards of our childhood, we are usually remembering the Unlimited Base Set. The Unlimited Base Set made the game more available for both players and collectors at a lower price point, even today. That is the same reason why when most people open their closets or clean out their garages, they typically find cards from the Unlimited Base Set.
Given the size of the print-run, Unlimited Base Set Cards are worth less than both their 1st Edition Base Set and Shadowless Base Set counterparts. However, they are still a great item for set collectors and for the nostalgia of the Pokemon Base Set. With the gain in popularity and collecting within the Pokemon TCG, some of these cards are seeing large gains. Top-end rare Holographic cards in mint condition can go for $100-500. While the print run was large in 1999, as the game grows and millennials turn to collecting items from their childhood, we could see this set continue to gain attention.
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Similar to Pokemon 1st Edition Base Set Cards, the square around the artwork for Shadowless Base Set Cards does not have the shadowed look of the later printed sets. Here are two versions of Venusaur below so that you can see the difference between the Shadowless Card and the Unlimited (Shadowed Card). The Shadowless Venusaur is on the left and the Unlimited (Shadowed) Card is on the right. This is an important difference because Shadowless Cards are much, much more exclusive and rare than the Unlimited Set (discussed here).
The only difference between the Shadowless Set and 1st Edition Base Set is the 1st Edition Stamp on the left side middle. You can see the difference between the Venusaur Shadowless (left) and 1st Edition Base Set (right) below:
The distinctions above are super important because the card value depends quite a bit on which set they are from. For value collectors and investors out there, Shadowless cards offer a lower price point than their counterparts with the 1st Edition Stamp. In some cases, Shadowless Cards with an equivalent grade (condition) go for as little as 25% or less of the cost of a Pokemon 1st Edition Base Set Card. With the Shadowless Set still exclusive and rare, it has alot of future potential for collectors, particularly for those who are priced out of the 1st Edition Base Set. Shadowless Cards in pristine graded condition can go from $10-30 for Commons or $500-$1500 for Rare Holographic Cards.
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With more and more collectors entering the market for Pokemon Cards every day, we continue to get questions regarding which sets are most collectible and sought after. It's an obvious choice to start at the beginning of the hobby, the 1st Edition Base Set.
Our 'Guide to Vintage Pokemon Cards' is a multi-part series focused on some of Pokemon TCG's most iconic and sought after sets. We discuss how to distinguish between the earliest sets. Also what Pokemon Cards are worth. We also discuss where to sell your old Pokemon cards and view recent sale prices.
The 1999 Pokemon 1st Edition Base Set was the first US release of the Pokemon TCG. It had a very limited print run and was only distributed on the West Coast. Product sold out quickly and there was no addition print run of this set, making some of these cards the most collectable in the hobby.
There are two key ways to see if your cards are of the 1st Edition Base Set. This series included a 1st Edition Stamp on the left middle side of the cards. In addition, you can distinguish the 1st Edition Base Set by the Shadowless card frame. Both of these factors must be in place for your card to be part of the orginal English release of the Pokemon 1999 1st Edition Base Set. Later on in our guide when we get to discussing the Unlimited Base Set, it will be clearer what the difference between a 'shadowless' and 'shadowed' card is.
Here's an example: Pokemon TCG 1999 First Edition Base Set Alakazam
This is one of the most common questions we get and the simplest answer is: it depends! If you own cards from the 1999 1st Edition English Pokemon Base Set, you own a piece of Pokemon TCG history and are in the right place. However, then it comes down to the details. Which cards do you own? What condition are they in? Some cards like the Charizard 1st Edition Base Set Holo sell at Auction for $10,000+ in pristine condition, while some common cards even in absolutely perfect condition sell for $30-40.
At FED USA Gaming we are buying vintage Pokemon collections all the time. If you own vintage Pokemon Cards, we offer a service where you can send us pictures of your collection to fedusagaming@gmail.com and we will assess and give you an estimate of the value we can pay for the cards. In many cases, we need to see the cards in person to make an accurate judgement on condition, so we ask that you mail us the cards. We pay for shipping and if in any case the cards aren't in the condition expected or we cannot come to a deal once the items are received on our end, we ship them back to you for free.
Another great place to check the value of your Pokemon Collection is Ebay. Check sold listings for the specific card you have in your collection to see where the last auctions are selling at.
Want to purchase Vintage Pokemon Cards? Send us an email at fedusagaming@gmail.com to let us know what you are looking for. Or, search "Pokemon Graded" on our webpage to see a portion of our current collection of graded cards for sale.
Hope this has been a helpful guide for past, present, and future Pokemon TCG Collectors out there. Next, learn about the 1999 Shadowless Base Set or the Pokemon TCG Unlimited Base Set as part of our multi-part vintage Pokemon collection series.
**Check out of 2021 Pricing Update Here
The Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) Trading Card Game has been around for 10-15 years and their recent release of the Dragon Ball Z Super Card Game has been gaining in popularity. If you are thinking of playing Dragon Ball Super or are interested in the game from the Anime Series or Action Figures, one budget way to get started in the game is to buy Booster Boxes from the last Dragon Ball Z Series (you can find them here). Many distributors have been selling their supplies of the prior Dragon Ball Z Series to make room for Dragon Ball Super, so while a Booster Box of Dragon Ball Z Super will cost you $75-80, you can currently buy Booster Boxes from the prior series for ~$25. This low price-point makes it fun for a group of friends, you can order boxes from multiple sets, try all the different cards, and see if Dragon Ball Z is the right game for you.
Dragon Ball Z Card Sets currently on sale include Heroes & Villians, Vengeance, Evolution, Movie Collection, Perfection, and Awakening. These boxes just last summer were selling for $65-75, so pick they up while the sales last!
Pokemon remains one of the most popular games out there, but from time to time, it can get quite costly to keep up with all the sets and products. Around 1 year ago, The Pokemon Company started reprinting some of their most popular sets to bring down the cost for players. As distributors and game stores work through this supply, it's a great time to pick up discounts on some great Pokemon Sets.
Two interesting Booster Boxes to pick up right now for Gamers on a budget include Roaring Skies and Ancient Origins. For any Pokemon players active in the expanded format, these boxes have tons of playable, iconic cards. Roaring Skies boxes used to sell for $250-300 before their reprinting. Ancient Origins boxes were also north of $125. You can pick up both of these for below $90 now here.
We are always on the hunt for great deals and products for our customers. Check out our Deals of the Week Page for new products and discounts!
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