Are 4th Print Charizards found only in UK booster boxes? No, that’s a common myth in the Pokémon TCG collector world, but the truth is more straightforward and a bit less exciting—4th print Charizards from the original Base Set aren’t exclusive to UK booster boxes at all. They pop up in booster packs from various English-language print runs across different regions, including the US, Canada, Australia, and yes, the UK too, depending on when and where the boxes were produced. Let’s dive deep into this topic, unpacking the history, the prints, the boxes, and why this rumor sticks around like gum on a gym shoe, all in plain simple words so anyone can follow along.
First off, picture this: it’s 1999, Wizards of the Coast (the company behind early Pokémon cards) is cranking out the Base Set, the very first big expansion with that iconic Charizard holographic card everyone dreams of. Charizard, the fire-breathing dragon lizard, became the face of the game right away because it’s rare, shiny, and looks like it could roast marshmallows with a stare. The Base Set had 102 cards, and Charizard is number 4 in the list, a holo rare you could pull from booster packs. But printing cards isn’t like baking cookies—it’s a massive operation with factories running non-stop to meet demand. Wizards used a system called “print runs” to mark how many times they reprinted the set before moving on.
Each print run got a little symbol in the bottom left corner of every card, right under the artwork. It’s called the “print line” or “edition mark.” The first print has nothing there, just blank space. Second print adds a tiny “2” inside a circle, like a little badge. Third print has a “3,” and fourth print has a “4” in that circle. These marks helped factories track which batch was which, so they didn’t mix up old stock with new. By the time they hit the fourth print, Wizards had printed millions of Base Set cards because Pokémon was exploding in popularity—kids everywhere were trading, battling, and begging parents for more packs.
Now, the big question: where did these 4th print cards show up? Booster boxes, those sealed bricks with 36 packs each, were shipped worldwide. In the US, early boxes from the first and second prints are super common because that’s where Wizards was based, in Washington state. But as demand skyrocketed, they ramped up printing. Fourth print boxes started hitting shelves later, around mid-2000, and they went to all sorts of places. US stores like Walmart, Toys R Us, and hobby shops got them. Canadian shops too, since Wizards distributed there directly. Australia and New Zealand saw imports, often through local distributors who got later print runs. And the UK? They were part of it, but not the only ones.
Here’s where the myth starts bubbling up. Some collectors noticed that UK booster boxes often had higher print numbers—like 3rd or 4th prints—more often than US ones. Why? Timing and shipping. UK product came from European warehouses or direct imports, and by the time it crossed the ocean, factories were on later runs. Early US boxes sold out fast, leaving mostly first and second prints behind. In the UK, fresh stock arrived later, so 4th prints became more common there. But “only” in UK boxes? Nope. Plenty of 4th print Charizards have been pulled from US boxes, graded by PSA (that big grading company), and sold on auctions. For example, look at old eBay sales or TCGPlayer listings from the 2000s—US sellers bragging about 4th print holos all the time. Even today, unopened US Base Set booster boxes from later prints get cracked on YouTube lives, spitting out 4th print cards left and right.
To make it crystal clear, let’s break down the print runs by region super simply:
– First print (blank): Mostly US and early worldwide, super valuable now because so few left in top shape.
– Second print (circled 2): Everywhere, but earliest UK stuff might have these.
– Third print (circled 3): Common in US late 1999, starts showing in UK imports.
– Fourth print (circled 4): Hits US in early 2000, floods UK and Europe by mid-2000, also Australia.
No official Wizards list says “4th prints only for UK.” In fact, Wizards stopped marking prints after the fourth because they switched to a new system, and by then Jungle set was out. Collectors today use sites like Bulbapedia or Pokémon forums to track this—thousands of logged pulls show 4th prints from US boxes. One guy on Reddit in 2018 cracked a sealed US Base Set box bought from a US convention, all 4th prints. Videos on YouTube from channels like Deep Pocket Monster or PokeVault show the same—US boxes with 4th print Charizards.
Why does the “UK only” story persist? Blame the internet and scarcity. Early 2000s, when Pokémon boomed back, UK sellers on eBay dumped tons of late-print stock cheap. US collectors chased pristine first prints, so 4th prints got labeled “UK junk” even if they weren’t. Plus, UK boxes have subtle differences—like the Wizards logo placement or box art tweaks for PAL regions—but the cards inside match US ones exactly, print line and all. Grading companies don’t care about origin; a 4th print Charizard in PSA 10 is worth about $200-500 raw, less than first prints at $1,000+, but still collectible.
Speaking of value, let’s talk money because that’s what keeps collectors up at night. A 4th print Charizard isn’t the holy grail like Shadowless first prints (those without the drop shadow on the art), but it’s part of the chase. Prices fluctuate with the market— in 2025, with Pokémon surging again thanks to new sets like that Phantasmal Flames one, vintage Base Set is hot. Raw 4th print holos go for $150-300. Graded PSA 9s hit $400-600, PSA 10s push $800-1,200 if centering is perfect. Compare that to first prints: $2,000 raw easy. But here’s the kicker—condition matters more than print. A beat-up first print loses value fast, while a gem mint 4th print holds steady.
How do you spot a real 4th print Charizard? Flip it over. Bottom left under the holo pattern: a small black “4” in a circle. The art is the same fiery pose, wings spread, tail flame roaring. No UK-exclusive art or errors. Fakes exist, though—Chinese counterfeits copy print lines poorly, so check pixelation or weight. Buy from trusted spots or get it slabbed.
Booster boxes themselves are the real treasure hunt. A sealed Base Set booster box from any print runs $5,000-10,000 now, depending on print mix. UK boxes might fetch a premium from myth believers
