The Ultimate Pokemon 1999 WotC Base Set Guide

The Base Set is the first Pokémon expansion for the Pokémon trading card game. It was first released in Japan on October 20, 1996 , and then worldwide on January 9, 1999. The cards were produced by Media Factory (for Japan) and Wizards of the Coast (WotC) (for other countries). Therefore, many collectors refer to this set as a WotC set .

In this guide, with the help of PokeMasterCenter, I'll answer many questions, such as:

  • How do you recognize a Base Set card?

  • What cards are in the Base Set?

  • In which languages is Base Set printed?

  • What variants of Base Set are there?

  • What's a Base Set card without a rarity symbol?

  • What is a 1st Edition Base Set card?

  • What is a Shadowless Base Set card?

  • What is a 1999-2000 Base Set map?

  • What is an Unlimited Base Set card?

  • What is a Trainer Deck card?

  • What are misprints in Base Set?

  • Are there any other variants in Base Set?

  • Variations of the 1st Edition stamp

  • Closed (sealed) products

The goal of this guide : to help you go from beginner to expert in Base Set. I can't explain everything, but I'll provide additional links so you can explore further on your own.

How do you recognize a Base Set card?

You can recognize a Base Set card by two things :

  1. There is no set symbol on the card.

  2. The number at the bottom of the card is like: “/102” .

Look at the picture below, where I've highlighted these features.

Important to know : Base Set cards are n't the only ones without a set symbol. Due to a printing error, some English Jungle cards are also printed without a set symbol. But the difference is easy to spot: Jungle cards are numbered "/64."

Japanese Base Set cards don't have any numbers at all . You can only identify them by the absence of a set symbol .

What cards are in the Base Set?

The Base Set has a total of 102 cards . These consist of:

  • 69 Pokémon cards

  • 26 Trainer cards

  • 6 Energy Cards

These cards include:

  • 16 Holographic (Glossy) Rare Cards

  • 16 regular rare cards

  • 32 unusual cards

  • 32 common cards

  • 6 Energy Cards without a rarity symbol

The full list of these cards can be found in the table below:

Image Pokemon Map Type Rarity Set number
Alakazam Art Alakazam Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 1/102
Blastoise Art Blastoise Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 2/102
Chansey Art Chansey Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 3/102
Charizard Art Charizard Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 4/102
Clefairy Art Clefairy Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 5/102
Gyarados Art Gyarados Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 6/102
Hitmonchan Art Hitmonchan Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 7/102
Machamp Art Machamp Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 8/102
Magneton Art Magneton Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 9/102
Mewtwo Art Mewtwo Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 10/102
Nidoking Art Nidoking Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 11/102
Ninetales Art Ninetales Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 12/102
Poliwrath Art Poliwrath Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 13/102
Raichu Art Raichu Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 14/102
Venusaur Art Venusaur Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 15/102
Zapdos Art Zapdos Pokémon Holographic Foil Rare 16/102
Beedrill Art Beedrill Pokémon Rare 17/102
Dragonair Art Dragonair Pokémon Rare 18/102
Dugtrio Art Dugtrio Pokémon Rare 19/102
Electabuzz Art Electabuzz Pokémon Rare 20/102
Electrode Art Electrode Pokémon Rare 21/102
Pidgeotto Art Pidgeotto Pokémon Rare 22/102
Arcanine Art Arcanine Pokémon Uncommon 23/102
Charmeleon Art Charmeleon Pokémon Uncommon 24/102
Dewgong Art Dewgong Pokémon Uncommon 25/102
Dratini Art Dratini Pokémon Uncommon 26/102
Farfetch'd Art Farfetch'd Pokémon Uncommon 27/102
Growlithe Art Growlithe Pokémon Uncommon 28/102
Haunter Art Haunter Pokémon Uncommon 29/102
Ivysaur Art Ivysaur Pokémon Uncommon 30/102
Jynx Art Jynx Pokémon Uncommon 31/102
Kadabra Art Cadabra Pokémon Uncommon 32/102
Kakuna Art Kakuna Pokémon Uncommon 33/102
Machoke Art Machoke Pokémon Uncommon 34/102
Magikarp Art Magikarp Pokémon Uncommon 35/102
Magmar Art Magmar Pokémon Uncommon 36/102
Nidorino Art Nidorino Pokémon Uncommon 37/102
Poliwhirl Art Poliwhirl Pokémon Uncommon 38/102
Porygon Art Porygon Pokémon Uncommon 39/102
Raticate Art Raticate Pokémon Uncommon 40/102
Seel Art Sea Pokémon Uncommon 41/102
Wartortle Art Wartortle Pokémon Uncommon 42/102
Abra Art Abra Pokémon Common 43/102
Bulbasaur Art Bulbasaur Pokémon Common 44/102
Caterpie Art Caterpie Pokémon Common 45/102
Charmander Art Charmander Pokémon Common 46/102
Diglett Art Diglett Pokémon Common 47/102
Doduo Art Doduo Pokémon Common 48/102
Drowzee Art Drowzee Pokémon Common 49/102
Gastly Art Gastly Pokémon Common 50/102
Koffing Art Coffee Pokémon Common 51/102
Machop Art Machop Pokémon Common 52/102
Magnemite Art Magnemite Pokémon Common 53/102
Metapod Art Metapod Pokémon Common 54/102
Nidoran♂ Art Nidoran♂ Pokémon Common 55/102
Onix Art Onix Pokémon Common 56/102
Pidgey Art Pidgey Pokémon Common 57/102
Pikachu Art Pikachu Pokémon Common 58/102
Poliwag Art Poliwag Pokémon Common 59/102
Ponyta Art Ponyta Pokémon Common 60/102
Rattata Art Rattata Pokémon Common 61/102
Sandshrew Art Sandshrew Pokémon Common 62/102
Squirtle Art Squirtle Pokémon Common 63/102
Starmie Art Starmie Pokémon Common 64/102
Staryu Art Staryu Pokémon Common 65/102
Tangela Art Tangela Pokémon Common 66/102
Voltorb Art Voltorb Pokémon Common 67/102
Vulpix Art Vulpix Pokémon Common 68/102
Weedle Art Weedle Pokémon Common 69/102
Clefairy Doll Art Clefairy Doll Trainer Rare 70/102
Computer Search Art Computer Search Trainer Rare 71/102
Devolution Spray Art Devolution Spray Trainer Rare 72/102
Imposter Professor Oak Art Imposter Professor Oak Trainer Rare 73/102
Itemfinder Art Itemfinder Trainer Rare 74/102
Lass Art Lass Trainer Rare 75/102
Pokémon Breeder Trainer Rare 76/102
Pokémon Trader Trainer Rare 77/102
Scoop Up Art Scoop Up Trainer Rare 78/102
Super Energy Removal Art Super Energy Removal Trainer Rare 79/102
Defender Art Defender Trainer Uncommon 80/102
Energy Retrieval Art Energy Retrieval Trainer Uncommon 81/102
Full Heal Art Full Heal Trainer Uncommon 82/102
Maintenance Art Maintenance Trainer Uncommon 83/102
Plus Power Art Plus Power Trainer Uncommon 84/102
Pokémon Center Trainer Uncommon 85/102
Pokémon Flute Trainer Uncommon 86/102
Professor Oak Art Professor Oak Trainer Uncommon 87/102
Pokédex Trainer Uncommon 88/102
Revive Art Revive Trainer Uncommon 89/102
Super Potion Art Super Potion Trainer Uncommon 90/102
Bill Art Bill Trainer Common 91/102
Energy Removal Art Energy Removal Trainer Common 92/102
Gust of Wind Art Gust of Wind Trainer Common 93/102
Potion Art Potion Trainer Common 94/102
Switch Art Switch Trainer Common 95/102
Double Colorless Art Double Colorless Energy Uncommon 96/102
Fighting Art Fighting Energy 97/102
Fire Art Fire Energy 98/102
Grass Art Grass Energy 99/102
Lightning Art Lightning Energy 100/102
Psychic Art Psychic Energy 101/102
Water Art Water Energy 102/102

In which languages is Base Set printed?

Base Set has been released in multiple languages :

  • Chinese

  • Dutch

  • English

  • French

  • German

  • Italian

  • Japanese

  • Portuguese

  • Spanish

  • Korean

For collectors , Korean cards are the rarest . English and Japanese cards are the most collected .

What variants does Base Set have?

The Base Set has the most variations of all the sets. These include:

  • Japanese cards without rarity symbol

  • 1st Edition cards

  • English Shadowless cards (without shadow border)

  • Unlimited cards (standard)

  • 1999-2000 English maps

  • Trainer Deck cards

  • Error/Misprint Cards

These variants exist in multiple languages. For example:

  • 1st Edition cards exist in all languages except Japanese

  • Only Japanese cards do not have a rarity symbol

  • 1999-2000 maps only exist in English and Spanish

  • Trainer Deck cards are only released in English

More explanation about these variants will follow later in the guide.

What's a Base Set card without a rarity symbol?

The first printing of the Japanese Base Set included 96 cards without a rarity symbol . These cards are now highly sought after by collectors. Later, all Japanese cards received a rarity symbol (except for the Energy cards).

You'll usually find the rarity symbol at the bottom right of the card :

  • Star (★) = rare

  • Diamond (◆) = unusual

  • Circle (●) = common

To identify a card without a symbol , you can look at that spot. See the example below:

What is a 1st Edition Base Set card?

The term “1st Edition” means that the card comes from the very first printing of the Base Set.

You can recognize a 1st Edition card by a stamp on the right side of the card. This stamp is a circle with the number "1" inside .

If a card does not have that stamp , then the card belongs to another variant, such as:

  • Shadowless (without shadow border)

  • Unlimited (regular version without stamp)

Exception to the rule:
There's one exception to the 1st Edition rule, and that's the Base Set Machamp . This card is always printed with a 1st Edition stamp , except in the special Trainer Deck A version .

While every Machamp card has the 1st Edition stamp, the Shadowless version is considered the true first printing .

This applies to all languages except Japanese , as no official 1st Edition cards were ever made in Japanese. However, you can still see what the first edition is for Japanese cards, as explained earlier.

What is a Shadowless Base Set card?

The first printing of English Base Set cards was made with a special design that we now call “Shadowless” .

These cards are unique because they don't have a shadow border around the Pokémon image. In later printings, a shadow was added, giving the card a slightly different look.

All 1st Edition cards were printed with this Shadowless design . However, there are also Shadowless cards without a 1st Edition stamp —these are still considered first printings , just without the stamp .

Wizards of the Coast (WotC) changed the card design for the second printing of the Base Set. They added a shadow border and slightly adjusted the card's appearance.

Shadowless cards are easily recognized by:

  • Brighter colors

  • A more zoomed in picture

  • Thicker HP text (life points)

  • A special copyright year at the bottom:
    “©1995 96 98 99 Nintendo Creatures GAMEFREAK ©1999”

This is different from the Unlimited cards , which have a different copyright text.

Shadowless cards are therefore the true first printing of the Base Set, but without the 1st Edition stamp . That's why they're still highly sought after by collectors .

The first printing was used for both 1st Edition cards and Shadowless cards.

According to the story , Wizards of the Coast (WotC) was the first to create Pokémon cards. Some of those cards received a 1st Edition stamp (as explained earlier). Cards without that stamp , but with the same design , are now called Shadowless cards .

When WotC began its second printing , they changed the card design. Collectors quickly noticed a few significant differences. The most significant difference was the addition of a shadow border around the Pokémon image.

As a result, the cards without shadows were given the name Shadowless , and the cards with shadows have since been called Unlimited Edition .

There are several distinct differences between Shadowless and Unlimited cards.

  • Here are the key differences between Shadowless and Unlimited cards :

    • HP text (life points) :
      Unlimited has thicker text than Shadowless.

    • Image (artwork) :
      With Unlimited the picture is more zoomed out .
      With Shadowless the picture appears bigger and closer .

    • To colour :
      Shadowless maps have brighter and more vibrant colors .

    • Drop shadow :
      To the right of the picture you will see a shadow next to Unlimited .
      With Shadowless, that shadow isn't there .

    • Copyright text at the bottom of the map :

      • Unlimited :
        “©1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, ©1999”

      • Shadowless :
        “©1995, 96, 98, 99 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, ©1999”
        👉 The extra year “99” is an important identifying mark for Shadowless cards.

So, the Shadowless cards are actually the first printing of the Base Set, but without the 1st Edition stamp.

You can best recognize them by the copyright at the bottom:
©1995, 96, 98, 99 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, ©1999

👉 Shadowless maps only exist in English.

What is a 1999-2000 Base Set map?
The eighth edition of the English Base Set is called the "1999-2000 set." This is due to the revised copyright on the card:

©1995 96 98 Nintendo Creatures GAMEFREAK ©1999-2000

At first glance, these cards look a lot like Unlimited cards, but for collectors, this small difference in the date is very important.

This set is sometimes called the “4th printing” because some people think there are only four printings of the Pokémon Base Set:

  1. 1st Edition

  2. Shadowless

  3. Unlimited

  4. 1999-2000

But in reality there were eight printings of the Base Set.

These cards were initially called the "UK release." This is actually misleading , as they were also sold in Australia and the United States .

Other languages, such as Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Korean, and Spanish , also have maps showing the 1999–2000 copyright date .

It is notable that the Spanish Base Set has no fewer than four variants , including cards with both 1999 and 1999-2000 copyright dates.

  • 1 pc edition 1999 copyright
  • 1 pc edition 1999-2000 copyright
  • Unlimited 1999 copyright
  • Unlimited 1999-2000 copyright

What is an Unlimited Base Set card?

Unlimited Base Set cards are the most common variant , as they were produced in all languages . They are included in the second through seventh printings of the English set.

You can easily recognize them by:

  • No 1st Edition stamp

  • Shadow around the image of the card

The only exception is the Base Set Machamp . This card always had a 1st Edition stamp , even though it was printed in Unlimited quantities .

Technically, any card without the 1st Edition stamp is an Unlimited card . However, in this guide, we'll discuss Unlimited cards separately from Shadowless and the other variants.

What is a Trainer Deck card?

Trainer Deck cards come in two variations:

  1. Trainer Deck A

  2. Trainer Deck B

These special cards were originally created to help players learn the Pokémon Trading Card Game during official Pokémon leagues. These leagues were often held at stores like Toys "R" Us .

When leagues no longer needed these decks, many organizers sold or gave the cards away , making them available to the public.

Trainer Deck A was used more frequently, and therefore cards from this deck are often more worn . Trainer Deck B cards , on the other hand, are usually found in better condition due to their limited use .

The main differences between these cards and regular Base Set cards are on the back :

  • Trainer Deck cards have a red border

  • “Trainer Deck A” or “Trainer Deck B” is written in red on the back

The Machamp from Trainer Deck A and the Blastoise from Trainer Deck B are printed without holographic foil , further distinguishing them from their regular Base Set versions.

Only the cards below appear with a Trainer Deck back:

Trainer Deck A Trainer Deck B
1 Machamp 1 Blastoise
2 Machoke 2 Pidgeotto
2 Raticate 2 Wartortle
4 Machop 4 Sea
4 Onix 4 Pidgey
4 Rattata 4 Squirtle
4 Sandshrew 3 Starmie
4 Defender 4 Staryu
2 Super Potion 1 Computer Search
4 Potion 2 Pokémon Trader
2 Switch 3 Energy Removal
27 Fighting Energy 3 Switch
27 Water Energy

What are the Error/Misprint cards in Base Set?

Because the Base Set was the first set released, it contains many errors and misprints , some of which are highly sought after by collectors . These errors can be divided into two categories:

  1. Errors that occurred on every card of a specific variant

  2. Errors that only occurred on a small number of maps

Cards with errors that are limited to a small number of printings are often more valuable to collectors.

An example of a desired error is:

  • No Stage Blastoise : A typo omitted the word "stage" from the Blastoise text. These cards were found in Unlimited booster packs .

No Damage Ninetales : Some Shadowless Ninetales cards lack the damage value for the Fire Blast attack . These cards were distributed in the Bushfire Theme Decks .

Ghost Stamp Pikachu : Some Shadowless Pikachu cards have an outline where the 1st Edition stamp would normally be, creating a "ghost" appearance. These cards can be found in Zap Theme Decks .

  • English Evolution Box Wartortle : The Unlimited versions of English Wartortle had a printing error where the evolution box contained Wartortle instead of Squirtle . To find these cards, you'll need to be lucky and find one in a booster pack.

There is also a Portuguese version of this error, so pay close attention to the text if you want to buy one, so you can determine the correct price.

Margin Spacing Water Energy : Unlimited Water Energy cards had a large number of cards with insufficient space in the top margin of the card name. These cards were found in booster packs .

Cards with Errors/Misprints Printed on Any Card within the Same Variant(s):

  • Japanese Evolution Box Holographic Foil Error : The Japanese Evolution Box cards had a holographic foil error . The foil on these cards failed , causing the holographic effect to not be printed correctly.

Each Japanese Holographic Card that contained an Evolution Box was printed with the Evolution Box covered in holographic foil .

Height and Weight Box Charizard

The Charizard card has an error where the Height and Weight box is misaligned or has a printing error . These cards are therefore rare and sought after by collectors.

All No Rarity Charizard cards have an error in the Height and Weight box . The text readsかしいりきボケモン: 身長1.5m. 体重70.5kg , but the correct text should be:
かえんボケモン: 身長1.7m. 体重90.5kg .

Raichu Pokédex Number Error

The Raichu card has a printing error where the Pokédex number is incorrect. The Raichu card has the wrong number in its Pokédex, making it a rare mistake for collectors.

All No Rarity Raichu cards have an incorrect Pokédex number , which is 25 instead of 26 .

Venusaur Pokédex Number Error

The Venusaur card has a printing error where the Pokédex number is incorrect. This error makes the card rare and sought-after by collectors.

All No Rarity Venusaur cards have an incorrect Pokédex number , which is 68 instead of 3 .

6/102 Spacing Error Gyarados

The Gyarados card has a spatial error at the number 6/102 . The number is printed too close to the edge of the card, making it appear different from other cards in the set.

All Unlimited and 1999-2000 Gyarados cards have their set number pushed too far to the left .

Length Instead of Weight Kakuna

The Kakuna card has an error where the length is listed instead of the weight . This is a rare printing error that collectors notice.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Kakuna cards have their weight printed instead of length .

Portuguese Evolution Box Wartortle

The Portuguese Evolution Box Wartortle has a printing error where the evolution box wasn't printed correctly. This error makes the card special for collectors.

All 1st Edition and Unlimited versions of the Portuguese Wartortle had a misprint where the evolution box contained Wartortle instead of Squirtle .

Length Instead of Weight Bulbasaur

The Bulbasaur card has an error where the length is listed instead of the weight . This is a rare printing error often sought by collectors.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Bulbasaur cards have their weight printed instead of length .

HP 40 Caterpie

The Caterpie card has an error in its HP value , with the HP accidentally printed as 40. This is a rare misprint that collectors highly value.

Wrong Text On Destiny Bond Attack Gastly

The Gastly card has an error in the text of the Destiny Bond raid , where the text is misprinted. This makes the card an interesting misprint for collectors.

All of the No Rarity Gastly cards have the wrong text for their Destiny Bond attack , it readsみちずれinstead of the correctみちづれ.

HP 70 Metapod

The Metapod card has an error in its HP value , with the HP printed as 70 instead of the correct number. This is a rare misprint that catches the eye of collectors.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Metapod cards have their HP printed as HP 70 instead of 70 HP .

Spacing in Name Nidoran♂

The Nidoran♂ card has an error in the name space , where the letters aren't aligned correctly. This makes the card a standout for collectors.

Every Nidoran card, except the Chinese , Japanese , and Korean versions, has a space between the n and the ♂ .

“This Attack Does Nothing” Sandshrew

The Sandshrew card has an error in the attack text , where it states "this attack does nothing." This is a common misprint sought by collectors.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Sandshrew cards have text that reads “this attack does nothing” instead of “that attack does nothing” .

Monster Ball Voltorb

The Voltorb card has a printing error that mentions the Monster Ball instead of the correct Poké Ball . This is a rare misprint that collectors find attractive.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Voltorb cards have Monster Ball printed instead of the correctly translated Poké Ball.

HP 50 Vulpix
The Vulpix card has an error in the HP value, with the HP printed as 50 instead of the correct value. This is a rare misprint often sought by collectors.

All 1st Edition , Shadowless , and Unlimited Vulpix cards have their HP printed as HP 50 instead of 50 HP .

Impostor Imposter Professor Oak

The Impostor Professor Oak card has a misprint in its name, with the "Impostor Imposter" text misprinted. This is an interesting misprint that collectors often seek out.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Impostor Professor Oak cards were printed as Impostor Professor Oak , while the Unlimited and 1999–2000 versions were printed as Imposter Professor Oak .

“Your Own Bench Pokémon” Switch

The Switch card has an error in the text where it says "your own Bench Pokémon" instead of the correct text. This is a misprint that will be noticeable to collectors.

All 1st Edition and Shadowless Switch cards have text that reads “Switch 1 of your own Bench Pokémon” instead of “Switch 1 of your Bench Pokémon” .

Other Errors/Misprints on Maps

There are several errors that only occurred once, such as Pokémon cards being printed back-to-back, wrinkles on cards caused by factory machines pressing the cards, and many more that aren't mentioned in this article. I've decided to include only the known errors and omit the enormous list of cards that have surfaced over the years. However, I will mention a few errors that occurred often enough to be interesting:

  • There are a number of Base Set cards that came from the factory without their corners properly rounded. This is known as square-cut cards and can occur on one or all four corners. Most of these cards were not made in a Wizards of the Coast factory but were cut directly from an uncut sheet.

  • Many Base Set cards have small ink stains. These stains are caused by the factory accidentally spilling ink onto the cards.

  • Some Dragonair cards have what appears to be a rainbow printed on their Slam attack, causing the letter "u" in the number to not be fully printed.

  • Off-center cards. Many cards were not cut correctly, resulting in very wide or very thin yellow borders.

  • Text Errors/Misprints . Many cards have incorrectly printed ink, making the text difficult to read.

  • Failed color cards . During the printing process, one of the ink colors can run out, causing the card to be printed without that color. The three colors used in the printing process were magenta, cyan, yellow, and black. Some cards have even been found that lack all colors except black, resulting in them being printed in black and white. Note that the edges of these cards are still yellow because they are printed on a different machine.

What Other Variants Are There in the Base Set?

The Base Set also includes other variants, each adding something unique to the set. Some of these include Galaxy Machamp , found in the 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set . This version of Machamp features a cosmic or galaxy foil background instead of the regular star foil seen on other holographic cards. While some may consider it a mistake or misprint, this was an intentional design choice.

Another notable variant is the Red Cheeks Pikachu . The early 1st Edition and Shadowless versions of Pikachu had red cheeks instead of the yellow cheeks used later. These cards were only available in booster packs, making them harder to find.

The Red Cheeks Shadowless E3 Pikachu is even rarer, as it was distributed during the 1999 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) . It features the same red cheeks as the earlier Pikachu card, but includes an "E3" stamp where the set symbol would normally be. This makes it unique from other Shadowless Pikachu cards.

Additionally, there is an Unlimited Yellow Cheeks E3 Pikachu variant, which was distributed with the Nintendo Power magazine in September 1999. While it has the corrected yellow cheeks, it retains the "E3" stamp.

The PokéTour Pikachu is another variant, which was distributed during the 1999 Australian PokéTour . It also has a unique stamp, this time in the upper right corner of the card's image, distinguishing it from other Unlimited Pikachu cards.

Finally, there's the Shadowless Pikachu Promo CD . This card is virtually indistinguishable from regular Shadowless Pikachu cards, but the smoother cardstock makes the difference. This card was produced by Media Factory in Japan and was included with the Pokémon Song Best Collection CD.

This card is difficult to distinguish from other Shadowless Pikachu cards; however, this card was produced by Media Factory in Japan and was included with the Pokémon Song Best Collection CD. The difference between this card and its Shadowless counterpart is the cardstock used. The Japanese cardstock is smoother and less grainy. This is difficult to see without proper lighting, but I've done my best to emphasize it in the image below.

1st Edition Stamp Variants

The 1st Edition stamps on Base Set cards also have several inconsistencies, leading to collectible variants. The most important variants are the Thick and Thin 1st Edition stamps, which refer to the thickness of the number "1" in the stamp's circle. The difference in thickness is due to the different pressure applied during the stamping process. Thin stamps are more common on holographic cards, while thick stamps are rarer.

There are also gray 1st Edition stamps , which are created by ink transfer between the card sheets during production. This results in a faint, grayish appearance to the stamp. These stamps are much less common and highly sought after by collectors.

Below is a photo where the ink has been transferred to another card.

Another interesting variation is the Off-Aligned 1st Edition Stamp , where the stamp is not correctly aligned with its intended placement. This misalignment gives the stamp a slight "3D" effect and is more visible on non-holographic cards. While off-aligned stamps are no rarer than their properly aligned counterparts, they are still a striking variation.

To understand how this stamp came to be, let's first look at the Pikachu ghost stamp .

Below, you can see that the filling and outer edge are slightly skewed. This gives the stamp a 3D appearance.

I don't know exactly why these outlines exist, but they only appear on non-holographic cards. If the 1st Edition stamp is placed directly on this outline, you get an aligned 1st Edition stamp. If not, you get an off-aligned 1st Edition stamp .

In my experience , off-aligned 1st Edition stamps are no rarer than the well-aligned stamps.

Sealed Product

Base Set cards were released in various sealed products, such as booster boxes, booster bags, blister packs, theme decks, gift boxes, and starter decks. These products contained various combinations of Base Set cards, and the packaging often provided clues about the specific cards inside.

Due to the complexity and large number of products released, I'll be creating a separate guide covering all sealed product variants. This guide will provide detailed information on how to identify each type of product and which cards may be inside.

Thank you, PokeMasterCenter!

Thank you for taking the time to read this guide! I hope it's provided valuable insights into the Pokémon Base Set. If you found this information helpful, please feel free to share it with others interested in learning about Pokémon cards.

Special thanks to PokeMasterCenter for writing such a comprehensive guide!

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