The 4th print run of the Pokémon Base Set trading cards was released exclusively in the United Kingdom, making it a special version produced to fix certain printing errors found in earlier prints.[2] This print run corrected issues like the misprinted HP on Vulpix cards, which showed “HP 50” instead of “50 HP” in the 1st Edition, Shadowless, and unlimited versions, and it also fixed other small errors unique to that region.[2] Collectors today recognize these UK 4th print cards by their specific dating, often marked as 1999-2000, and they tend to show up in listings for cards like Wartortle #42 or other Base Set staples.[3]
To understand why this print run happened only in one country, we need to go back to how Pokémon cards first came to the world outside Japan. The Pokémon Trading Card Game, or TCG, started in Japan in 1996, but it exploded globally in 1999 when Wizards of the Coast, the company behind Magic: The Gathering, got the license to print and distribute English versions.[1][4] The Base Set was the very first expansion, released in January 1999 in the US, with 102 cards featuring iconic Pokémon like Charizard #4, Blastoise, and Venusaur.[5] Demand was insane right away—by March 1999, over 764 million cards had shipped worldwide, made in factories in Japan and the US.[4]
Wizards printed multiple runs of the Base Set to keep up with the craze. There was the 1st Edition with its special stamp, then Shadowless versions without the shadow on the artwork border, followed by unlimited prints.[2] But errors crept in during production. For example, some cards had wrong text, like Vulpix’s HP format, or other glitches like misaligned backs or odd crimps on booster packs.[2] These weren’t huge problems for most players, but collectors noticed, and Wizards had to respond, especially in markets where sales were booming.
Enter the UK market. Pokémon hit Europe a bit later than the US. The anime started airing in places like Australia and New Zealand in late 1998, and various Asian spots followed in 1999, but the UK got its own tailored push for the cards.[4] By 1999-2000, Wizards decided to do a fresh print run just for the UK to clean up those errors. This 4th print corrected the Vulpix HP issue completely, changing it to the proper “50 HP,” and fixed similar problems on other cards like those in the Jungle expansion trials.[2] It wasn’t sent to the US or anywhere else—purely a UK exclusive, likely because local distributors reported the errors more or because UK demand needed a quick, corrected batch.[2]
Why only the UK? Printing cards back then was a big operation. Sheets of cards were printed together, cut, and packaged. Errors happened when sheets got flipped or misaligned during runs.[2] Wizards was handling massive volumes—by March 2000, 4.255 billion cards total had been made.[4] They couldn’t reprint everything everywhere without slowing down sales. The UK, as a key English-speaking market in Europe, got priority for fixes. This print run also tied into early league events, where prerelease cards were tested, but the 4th print stood apart as a commercial correction.[1]
These cards look almost like other unlimited Base Set prints, but subtle differences show up under close inspection. The alignment is tighter, errors are gone, and the print quality feels refined for that era.[2] Booster boxes from this run sometimes have unique crimps, longer in Belgium variants but standard for UK ones, with fewer partial cuts on rares.[2] No square-cut holos or double-printed backs like in some US errors—the UK 4th print was made clean.[2]
Fast forward to collecting today, and these UK 4th prints are prized. Take Wartortle #42 from 1999-2000: ungraded copies sell around $5.99, but graded PSA 10 versions hit $144 or more, with BGS 10 Black Label ones pushing $940.[3] Charizard #4 from Base Set in general is a monster, with ungraded at $226 and PSA 10 over $13,000, but the 4th print variants add rarity value because so few exist outside the UK originally.[5] Prices fluctuate based on condition—light play copies go for hundreds, near mint thousands—driven by nostalgia and scarcity.[3][5]
How did these cards spread beyond the UK? Mostly through collectors and traders. Back in 1999-2000, kids at school swaps, early tournaments, and hobby shops moved them around. Wizards ran Pokémon Leagues where prerelease cards like stamped Raichu (a rare test error) were handed out, but those were US-focused initially.[1] In Europe, leagues got staff promos later, but the 4th print was commercial stock.[1] Today, sites track sales showing UK prints popping up worldwide, imported by fans chasing complete sets.[3]
The Base Set itself shaped Pokémon TCG history. It introduced energy types, evolutions, and gym leader themes that still echo in modern sets. Charizard became the holy grail card, with its fiery attack artwork drawing kids in.[5] But print runs like the 4th UK one highlight how global rollout wasn’t uniform. Japan controlled approvals tightly through councils, approving merch step by step.[4] North America handled localization via NoA and 4Kids, but Europe got customized batches.[4]
Other countries didn’t get a 4th print equivalent. The US stuck with its unlimited runs, errors and all, which collectors now love for authenticity.[2] Canada and Australia got standard imports around the same time as the UK, but no error-corrected exclusives mentioned.[4] Asia had earlier anime but cards followed US prints.[4] Belgium had a “long crimp” variant on some boxes, showing regional tweaks, but not a full 4th print.[2] South Korea debuted the anime in 1999, but TCG followed Japanese patterns more.[4]
Proof of the UK exclusivity comes from collector databases and error card breakdowns. Bulbapedia notes the Vulpix fix “only corrected in the UK released 1999-2000 4th print run,” and similar for Jungle Clefable trials.[2] Price guides label cards explicitly as “1999-2000 4th Print Base Set,” with sales data confirming UK origin.[3] No records show Wizards shipping this run elsewhere—logistics and error reports were UK-specific.[2]
Owning one today feels like holding a piece of Pokémon’s chaotic early days. Imagine unboxing a booster in 1999 UK, pulling a corrected Vulpix without knowing it’s rare. Tournaments used unlimited formats back then, so reprints like these were legal everywhere, no restrictions.[6] Modern play has rotated legality, but collectors preserve them pristine.
Digging deeper, Wizards’ print sheets held multiple cards—errors like inverted backs happened when a sheet flipped mid-print.[2] The Raichu prerelease stamp error wa
