The world of Pokémon cards is full of surprises, and one of the biggest mysteries collectors chase is figuring out exactly how many copies exist of super rare versions like the 4th print Charizard from the original Base Set. This card, often just called the “4th Print Charizard,” is a holographic version of the iconic fire-breathing dragon from the very first Pokémon Trading Card Game expansion released in 1999 by Wizards of the Coast. Unlike the more common unlimited prints that came later, the 4th print is part of a specific printing sequence marked by a tiny symbol on the card’s bottom left corner—a small “4” inside a circle, showing it was from the fourth production run. No official records pin down an exact number of ungraded copies still out there today, but by piecing together sales data, print run patterns, and collector insights, experts estimate anywhere from 50,000 to 150,000 ungraded 4th print Charizards might still be in circulation or tucked away in attics and collections.[1]
To understand why it’s so hard to nail down a precise count, you have to go back to how these cards were made. The Pokémon Base Set launched with massive hype, and Wizards of the Coast couldn’t keep up with demand. They started printing in waves: first edition (with the gold stamp), shadowless (no shadow under the character art), and then unlimited prints divided into numbered runs—1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and beyond. Each print run produced sheets of cards, with holos like Charizard #4 being the rarest pulls from booster packs at about 1 in 72 packs per box. The 4th print happened early in the unlimited phase, before they switched to even more common later runs, making it scarcer than, say, a 9th or 10th print. Production estimates for early unlimited holos hover around 200,000 to 500,000 total Charizards printed across all early runs combined, but the 4th specifically likely saw 100,000 to 300,000 copies based on how Wizards ramped up presses to meet exploding sales—over 87 million cards shipped in Japan alone by early 1997, with U.S. numbers exploding to billions by 2000.[5][1]
Grading changes everything when talking numbers. Most serious collectors send their cards to places like PSA or BGS for official scores, which pulls them out of the “ungraded” pool forever. Recent sales data shows ungraded 4th print Charizards still trading hands regularly, with prices around $197 for average copies, down a bit from recent highs due to market dips. Volume is steady: about 1 sale per day for ungraded ones on major sites, compared to rarer graded versions like PSA 10s that move once a month at $10,100 each.[1] This suggests plenty are still ungraded—maybe tens of thousands actively bought and sold each year. If you factor in sealed packs and binders sitting dormant, the total ungraded population could easily top 100,000. Collectors on forums report finding them in bulk lots from old stores or estate sales, hinting at hidden stockpiles from the late ’90s boom when kids ripped packs like crazy.
What makes the 4th print special isn’t just scarcity—it’s the chase. The symbol proves authenticity in a sea of fakes and proxies flooding sites like Etsy, where knockoff Shining Charizards (a different rare) sell cheap but fool no one up close.[4] Real 4th prints have that crisp holo foil that shifts orange and gold under light, with Charizard’s wings spread wide and flames roaring. Print defects add to the lore too, like rare misprints from obstructed sheets in unlimited runs, though those are one-offs not tied to the 4th specifically.[3] Compared to shadowless or first editions, which fetch thousands even ungraded, the 4th sits in a sweet spot: valuable but accessible. Recent sales include a near-mint one for $540 on December 3, 2025, and another at $649 just weeks earlier—proof they’re out there and moving.[1]
Digging deeper into supply, Wizards printed these in massive U.S. factories stretched to the limit. By late 1999, they had “exhausted most of the card-printing capacity of the United States,” yet demand kept pouring in, leading to multiple runs.[5] Each booster box held 36 packs, and early holos like Charizard were pulled at low rates, so even huge print totals mean fewer survivors today. Grading stats help guess: PSA has population reports showing thousands of Base Set Charizards slabbed, but they don’t break out prints perfectly. For ungraded, it’s the wild west—eBay, TCGPlayer, and local shops see steady flow. One collector tracked 2025 sales and figured at least 365 ungraded 4th Charizards sold this year alone based on daily averages, not counting private trades.[1]
Rarity scales with condition. Ungraded means anything from played-out beaters to hidden gems near-mint. Prices swing wild: $431 to $649 in mid-November 2025 sales show market flux, with volume picking up around holidays.[1] Why so many still ungraded? Not everyone’s a grader—casual fans keep them in sleeves, kids from the ’90s stash them away, and bulk sellers dump lots without checking prints. Global production hit 75 billion cards by March 2025, but Base Set holos are a tiny slice, with early prints like the 4th being the holy grail for completists.[5]
Counterfeits muddy the waters too. Proxies mimic holos but lack the feel—Etsy listings boast “high quality” fakes of other Charizards, but savvy buyers spot the off holography.[4] Real 4th prints have precise dot patterns from the era’s presses, and the “4” symbol is crisp, not blurry. Errors from print runs, like tape obstructions on Dark Charizard variants, show how imperfections happened, but 4th prints are mostly clean.[3]
Market trends point to a healthy ungraded supply. With 1-2 sales daily across conditions, and prices holding at $197 average, it’s not drying up.[1] Compare to ultra-rares like test print Disco Holofoil Charizard, which sold for $113,880 graded but has maybe dozens total—4th print dwarfs that.[2] Gold Star Charizards or First Edition holos are scarcer too, with pull rates one per two boxes.[2] For 4th print, survival rate from 25+ years is decent because Charizard was hoarded even then.
Hunters find them in unexpected places: garage sales, flea markets, even international shipments from Japan where Base Set English cards circulated early.[5] Online, TCGPlayer lists dozens weekly, with recent comps like $460 on November 6.[1] If you’re counting, subtract graded pops (thousands slabbed) from total print estimates, add back unopened product—lands around 75,000-125,000 ungraded worldwide.
The chase never end
