Are 4th Print Pokémon Cards More Valuable Than Unlimited? Let’s dive deep into this question that’s got collectors buzzing. In the world of Pokémon Trading Card Game, especially the classic Base Set from 1999, print runs matter a ton for value. The short answer is no, 4th print cards are not generally more valuable than standard Unlimited prints, but there are some twists that make certain 4th prints stand out for niche collectors. Unlimited cards, being the most common after the ultra-rare 1st Edition and Shadowless, usually hold steady everyday value because they’re easier to find in good shape. 4th prints, on the other hand, come from a much later production batch in the UK market, and while they’re scarcer overall, their prices don’t beat Unlimited across the board. To understand why, we need to unpack the whole print run story step by step, look at real market data, and see what drives prices up or down.
First off, what even are these print designations? Back in 1999, Wizards of the Coast (WotC), the original makers of Pokémon cards in the West, released the Base Set in waves. The very first was 1st Edition, marked with a little stamp on the bottom left of each card, super limited and crazy expensive today. Then came Shadowless, which dropped the shadow from the artwork border, still rare but more available. After that, Unlimited hit the scene, the standard mass-produced version with the shadowed border and no edition mark. These Unlimited cards flooded the market, making them the baseline for most collections. Now, the 4th print? That’s a specific later run, mostly tied to the UK 1999-2000 printings. It wasn’t a global thing like Unlimited; it was regional, printed to meet demand in Europe after earlier runs sold out. These cards look almost identical to Unlimited at a glance, but savvy collectors spot them by tiny print line differences or set symbols on the bottom. The key point from collector resources is that 4th prints fixed some errors from earlier Unlimited versions, like on Vulpix where HP was printed as “HP 50” instead of “50 HP” – that got corrected only in the UK 4th print run.[4] But rarity alone doesn’t equal value; condition, demand, and hype do.
Let’s talk numbers, because prices don’t lie. Take the iconic Charizard #4 from Base Set, the holy grail for new collectors. On PriceCharting, a fresh Unlimited Charizard in ungraded condition averages $216.97, with PSA 10 gems hitting $13,253.29 as of recent sales around December 2025.[1] That’s with steady volume – one sale a month for top grades, but daily for lower ones. Now, compare to Blastoise #2, another heavy hitter. Its Unlimited ungraded price sits at $69.73, PSA 10 at $3,199.00, with more action like two sales per month in high grades.[3] These are Unlimited baselines, pulled from thousands of tracked eBay sales. But where do 4th prints fit? Market data shows they don’t top these charts. A 4th print Charizard might fetch a premium in raw form maybe 10-20% over a beat-up Unlimited due to scarcity, but graded? Nah, PSA 10 Unlimited still rules because more people chase the mainstream version. Why? Unlimited cards have way higher population reports – thousands graded versus dozens for 4th prints. For example, error-corrected Unlimited cards from late runs, like Blaine’s Charizard from Gym Challenge with the right Fire symbol, actually get hunted more than plain 4th prints because they’re rarer fixes in the Unlimited family.[4] 4th prints are cool oddities, but they lack the “1st Ed” prestige that jacks up bids.
Digging deeper into why Unlimited often wins on value, it’s all about supply and collector psychology. Unlimited was printed in the millions, so even today, you can snag a near-mint one for under $100 on commons like Pikachu. 4th prints? Estimates put them at tens of thousands printed, mostly for UK shops late in 1999. That makes them scarcer, sure, but not “one-of-one” rare like promo prizes in other games. Think about Yu-Gi-Oh comparisons – their 1st Edition Exodia PSA 10 sold for $8,000 because it’s the ultimate chase card with banlist hype, while prize cards like Gemini Elf hit a quarter million for being unique tournament swag.[2] Pokémon 4th prints don’t have that event backstory; they’re just late-factory stock. Condition is king too. A pristine Unlimited Charizard crushes a creased 4th print every time. Recent eBay data shows Unlimited holos moving fast – Blastoise Unlimited with HP crease listed at $50 recently, but clean ones climb quick.[3] 4th prints pop up less, maybe boosting spot prices, but long-term charts show Unlimited holding firmer. Volume tells the tale: Unlimited sees 1-2 sales daily across grades, while 4th prints trickle in weekly at best.
But hold up – are there cases where 4th prints shine brighter? Yeah, for error hunters and UK completists. Take that Vulpix fix: early Unlimited had the HP goof, Shadowless too, but 4th print nailed it right.[4] A corrected 4th print Vulpix might edge out an error Unlimited by 50% in value among purists, but we’re talking $20-50 cards, not thousands. Same with Gym Challenge errors – corrected Unlimited Blaine’s Charizard is rarer than the error because the fix came super late in Unlimited runs, making it desirable over plain versions.[4] 4th prints get lumped in as “late corrected,” but they’re not pricier overall. Square cut holos or double-printed backs from Unlimited runs are wilder variants that spike higher.[4] If you’re building a full Base Set by print run, a 4th print set might cost 2-3x an Unlimited one due to hunting them down, but individual cards? Unlimited wins for investment. Market trackers like PriceCharting don’t even separate 4th prints in main pricing; they’re niche eBay flips.
What affects value swings? Grading matters huge. PSA 10 Unlimited Charizard holds at $13k with one sale monthly, but a 4th print PSA 10? Almost nonexistent because fewer survived mint.[1] Population reports back this – Unlimited has 10,000+ PSA 10 Charizards, 4th prints maybe 50-100 across icons. Demand spikes from nostalgia too. Post-2020 Pokémon boom, Unlimited prices doubled as millennials cashed in childhood packs. 4th prints rode the wave but plateaued because they’re harder to authenticate without expertise. Fakes? Rare, but print line checks help spot real 4th prints. Seller tips: always photo the bottom print symbol. Recent sales show Unlimited Blastoise PSA 9.5 at $641, dropping a bit, but steady.[3] 4th print equivalents? Sporadi
