There aren’t any known 4th print Charizard cards from the original Pokemon Base Set, so the number in the CGC population is zero. People sometimes mix up print runs with grading company data, but let’s break this down step by step in a way that’s easy to follow, like chatting about your favorite cards over coffee.
First off, what even is a “4th print” Charizard? In the world of old Pokemon cards, especially the super popular Base Set from 1999, cards came in different print runs. Wizards of the Coast, the company that made them back then, printed the Base Set in waves to keep up with demand. The first print run had a little “1st Edition” stamp in the bottom left corner. After that, they did unlimited prints without the stamp. But here’s the key thing: those unlimited prints aren’t labeled as “1st,” “2nd,” “3rd,” or “4th.” There’s no official “4th print” marking on any Base Set Charizard card number 4, which is the holofoil Rare Holo version everyone chases.[3]
Some collectors talk about “print runs” based on tiny differences, like the position of the copyright line or little dots on the card’s back. For example, early unlimited prints are called “shadowless” because the drop shadow under Charizard’s artwork is faint or missing. Later ones have bolder shadows and are just called “shaded” or “revised.” But even those aren’t numbered as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th. No factory stamp says “4th print.” If someone claims they have a “4th print Charizard,” they’re probably referring to a very late unlimited print, maybe identified by super-specific back patterns that hardcore graders spot under magnification. Still, it’s not an official thing, and no population reports track it that way.[1][3]
Now, the main question is about CGC population. CGC stands for Certified Guaranty Company, one of the big three card graders alongside PSA and BGS. They slab cards in plastic cases with a grade from 1 to 10, and they keep a public “population report” or “pop report” showing how many of each card they’ve graded at each level. You can check their website anytime to see exact numbers, and it updates as more cards get submitted.
For the Base Set Charizard #4 (unlimited, non-1st edition), CGC has graded a bunch, but nothing tagged as “4th print.” Their pop report lumps all unlimited versions together. As of late 2025, CGC shows hundreds in various grades for this card, like over 900 in PSA 8 equivalents or something similar, but wait—no, pop reports are per grader. PriceCharting pulls data from PSA mostly, showing for Base Set Charizard #4: 393 PSA 1s, 149 PSA 2s, up to 80 PSA 10s, totaling thousands graded by PSA alone.[3] CGC’s numbers are separate and lower overall because PSA dominated early grading. CGC pop for Base Set Charizard #4 is in the low thousands across all grades, but again, zero labeled “4th print” because that variant doesn’t exist in their system.[1][3]
Why zero for 4th print specifically? Simple: CGC doesn’t distinguish print runs beyond major ones like 1st Edition or Shadowless. They note it on the label if you specify, but for late unlimited “4th prints,” there’s no standard identifier. Collectors might submit one and ask for a note, but the pop report won’t have a category for it. If a true late-print Charizard got slabbed, it’d just count under the main “Base Set Charizard #4 Unlimited.” No special census exists for hypothetical 4th prints in CGC.[2][3]
Let’s talk about 1st Edition to compare, since that’s the real chase card. Base Set 1st Edition Charizard #4 is marked with the “Edition 1” stamp. CGC has graded far fewer of those—pop reports show maybe a couple hundred total across grades, with PSA 10s being ultra-rare like under 10. Prices are insane: over $260,000 for top PSA 10s recently.[2] But even there, no “4th print” sub-variant.
What about other Charizards people confuse it with? There’s Crystal Guardians Charizard #4 from 2006, a reverse holo that’s not Base Set at all. That one has PSA pops like 393 low grades up to 80 PSA 10s, but again, no print run drama—it’s a later set with even printings.[1] Base Set 2 Charizard #4 is another reprint, with PSA 10s around 9,937 bucks but low pop on gems.[4] None have “4th print.”
Digging into collector stories, forums like Elite Fourum have folks hunting every Base Set Charizard variant. One guy in December 2025 bragged about grabbing 1st Edition Italian, German prints, shadowless, and low-pop Chinese versions, with total PSA pops under 200 for some. He even got an Evolutions staff prerelease, but zero mention of “4th print” because it’s not a thing people track that way. His unlimited Base Set Zards are just standard, graded in 2020-2024, now worth thousands.[5]
So how do you spot a late “4th print” if it existed? Experts look at the card back. Early unlimiteds have three dots in a triangle under the copyright. Later ones might have different alignments or bolder text. Some call the final runs “4th series” based on production codes, but it’s guesswork. Total printed? Base Set had millions overall, but exact breakdowns are lost to time since Wizards didn’t release numbers. Maybe 100,000+ unlimited Charizards exist raw, but graded “4th prints” in CGC? Still zero, because no one’s cataloged it officially.
If you’re hunting one, check raw card backs on eBay or shows. Prices for late unlimiteds are cheaper than shadowless—around $200 ungraded versus $3,700 for early ones.[3] But slabbed in CGC? Expect grades 8-9.5 selling for $500-1,000, depending on eye appeal. No pop scarcity premium since they’re not tracked separately.
Grading trends matter here. CGC started Pokemon grading later than PSA, so their pops grow slower. In 2025, with the boom, submissions spiked—shows like the big December events see lines for slabbing. But for niche “4th prints,” owners might not bother, keeping them raw. That keeps any CGC pop at zero.
Other sets toy with print ideas. Jungle Charizard had print runs, but not Base Set. Modern sets like Scarlet & Violet have special reverses, but nothing “4th print.” The myth persists from old forums where folks numbered prints themselves: 1st Edition, Shadowless (2nd), shaded unlimited (3rd+). Some say fou
