1st Edition Charizard Pokemon Card

In January 1999, Wizards of the Coast released the English Pokémon Base Set. Inside those booster packs, one card mattered more than any other: the holographic Charizard. The 1st Edition stamp in the lower left corner meant everything. Only 124 copies have ever received a PSA 10 Gem Mint grade. The record sale? $550,000 - for a single trading card, from a children's game, printed less than 30 years ago.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1st Edition Base Set Charizard (Holographic)
Year	1999
Category	Trading Cards - Pokémon
Set	Base Set, Card #4/102
Publisher	Wizards of the Coast / The Pokémon Company
Condition Range
PSA 5-7	$5,000 – $15,000
PSA 8	$15,000 – $30,000
PSA 9	$30,000 – $60,000
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)	$264,000 – $550,000
Record Sale	$550,000 (PSA 10, December 2025)
PSA 10 Population	124 copies
Rarity	Rare (1st Edition) / Extremely Rare (PSA 10)

The Story

Pokémon cards arrived in America like a tidal wave. The Japanese game had already conquered Asia, and when the English Base Set dropped in January 1999, kids lost their minds. Every schoolyard had the same hierarchy: common cards were dirt, holographics were currency, and the Charizard was gold.

The 1st Edition print run was relatively small - these were the very first English Pokémon cards off the press, marked with a small "1st Edition" stamp on the left side of the card face. The Unlimited run (without the stamp) followed in massive quantities. But those first-edition prints, especially in mint condition? They became the defining collectible of a generation.

The pandemic collecting boom of 2020-2021 sent Charizard prices into the stratosphere. Logan Paul famously wore a PSA 10 copy around his neck. YouTube unboxing videos of sealed 1st Edition booster boxes (which now sell for $300,000+) went viral. A complete 1st Edition Base Set in all PSA 10 sold for $911,000 in 2025.

The record for a single 1st Edition Charizard jumped from $50,000 to $420,000 to $550,000 in the span of five years.

How to Identify It

1st Edition vs. Unlimited vs. Shadowless

Three versions of the Base Set Charizard exist, in descending value:

1st Edition: Gold "1st Edition" stamp below the card artwork on the left side. Shadowless border (no shadow on the right side of the artwork box). This is the one worth $5,000 to $550,000.
Shadowless (no 1st Ed stamp): No shadow on the border, but no 1st Edition stamp. Worth $1,000 to $10,000 in high grade.
Unlimited: Shadow present on the right border of the artwork box. Most common. Worth $100 to $2,000 depending on grade.

Key Visual Identifiers

1st Edition stamp: Small gold emblem, lower left of card art
Shadowless check: Look at the right edge of the card artwork box. No shadow = 1st Edition or Shadowless. Visible shadow = Unlimited
Card number: 4/102
HP: 120 HP, Fire type, Stage 2
Copyright line: Should show "© 1995, 96, 98, 99 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK" and "© 1999 Wizards"

The PSA 10 Factor

The difference between PSA 9 and PSA 10 is staggering. A PSA 9 is worth about $51,000. A PSA 10 is worth $264,000 to $550,000. That jump - roughly 5-10x - comes down to tiny details: perfect centering, zero surface scratches, pristine edges, and sharp corners. Only 124 out of thousands submitted have achieved PSA 10.

Value by Grade

Grade	Value
PSA 5 (Excellent)	$5,000 – $8,000
PSA 6 (Excellent-Mint)	$8,000 – $12,000
PSA 7 (Near Mint)	$12,000 – $15,000
PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint)	$15,000 – $30,000
PSA 9 (Mint)	$30,000 – $60,000
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)	$264,000 – $550,000

Authentication & Fakes

PSA or BGS grading is essential. Do not buy or sell a high-value Charizard without professional grading
Verify the 1st Edition stamp - some people alter Unlimited cards to add a fake stamp
Check centering - off-center cards can't achieve PSA 10, so perfectly centered cards are suspect if ungraded (they should've been submitted already)
Card thickness and texture - counterfeits often feel slightly different. The "rip test" (not recommended on valuable cards) would show a black layer inside genuine Pokémon cards
Beware of Unlimited or Shadowless cards being sold as 1st Edition. Always verify the stamp and border

Where to Sell

Goldin Auctions - Major platform for high-value Pokémon cards
Heritage Auctions - Regular Pokémon card sales
eBay - Active market, especially for graded cards with clear photos
PWCC - Specialized trading card marketplace
StockX - Authenticated trading card sales

For a PSA 10, use a major auction house. The bidding competition between collectors drives prices higher than fixed-price sales.

Not sure about your Pokémon cards? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is a 1st Edition Charizard worth?

PSA 5-7: $5,000 to $15,000. PSA 8: $15,000 to $30,000. PSA 9: $30,000 to $60,000. PSA 10: $264,000 to $550,000. Even in lower grades, a 1st Edition Charizard is a significant card.

How do I know if my Charizard is 1st Edition?

Look for the gold "1st Edition" stamp on the lower left of the card artwork. Also check the right border of the art box - 1st Edition cards are "shadowless" (no shadow effect on the border).

Should I get my Charizard graded?

If you believe you have a 1st Edition Charizard in good condition, absolutely yes. The difference between raw and graded values is enormous. PSA grading costs $50 to $150 depending on service level and declared value.

Are Japanese Charizards valuable too?

The Japanese Base Set Charizard (1996) is a different card. It's collectible but worth significantly less than the English 1st Edition - typically $500 to $5,000 in high grade.