A PSA 10 copy of the 4th-print Charizard (Base Set Charizard, commonly referenced as “#4” or “4/102” in later printings) is uncommon but not extraordinarily rare compared with first‑edition or shadowless PSA 10 examples; its scarcity, desirability, and value sit well below the legendary first‑edition/ shadowless Charizard but are meaningful to collectors because PSA 10 supply is limited and demand remains high. [4][5]
Key facts and how collectors interpret them
– “4th print” usually refers to later print runs of the original Base Set Charizard (the widely circulated English Base Set reprints and subsequent Base Set 2 / reprints rather than 1st‑edition shadowless printings), and those later prints were produced in much larger quantities than the 1st‑edition shadowless run, so ungraded population is large while high‑grade survivors are fewer relative to total print run but far more common than 1st‑edition PSA 10s.[2][3][4]
– Price and market activity data show that PSA 10 examples for later-print Charizards exist and trade regularly, but at substantially lower price points and higher sale frequency than the ultra‑rare 1st‑edition shadowless PSA 10s; PriceCharting lists a PSA 10 value for general Charizard #4 and shows observed sale volumes for PSA 10s in later prints, indicating measurable market supply and sales history for PSA 10 later‑print copies.[4][6]
– For shadowless Charizard specifically (the earlier non‑reprint variety), PSA 10 population is extremely scarce and commands much higher prices; PriceCharting reports very few PSA 10 sales per year for the shadowless variant—this illustrates the difference in rarity and value between print variants.[5]
What “how rare” means in practice (population, sales, and price context)
– Population counts and sale frequency are the practical measures collectors use: a card with near‑zero PSA 10 population and almost no yearly sales is “extremely rare” (typical of a small number of 1st‑edition shadowless PSA 10 Charizards), whereas a later‑print Charizard with dozens or hundreds of PSA 10s and recurring monthly-to-yearly listings is “uncommon” or “scarce” but not “extremely rare.” PriceCharting and market trackers show that PSA 10 examples of later-print Charizard sell with some regularity, indicating a non‑trivial population of gem‑mint later prints graded PSA 10.[4][6]
– Price levels reflect rarity and demand: later‑print PSA 10 Charizards trade for thousands to tens of thousands (PriceCharting shows PSA 10 valuations and recorded sales), whereas 1st‑edition/shadowless PSA 10s have historically sold for many times that amount and trade far less frequently, illustrating the greater rarity and premium for early print variants.[4][5][6]
Why PSA 10 later‑print Charizards are relatively more available
– Large original print runs and reprints: The Base Set and subsequent reprints produced many copies of Charizard compared with limited first‑edition runs, increasing the raw pool of cards that could grade PSA 10 after four‑plus decades of preservation and supply of high‑grade survivors.[2][3]
– Grading throughput and collector behavior: Modern grading submissions include many later prints; popular cards receive heavy submission volume from hobbyists, increasing the total PSA 10 population over time even if the fraction of submitted cards that achieve Gem Mint is small.[4][6]
Where to verify counts and recent sales
– Price tracking / sales databases: PriceCharting lists historic sale prices and estimated valuations for multiple Charizard print variants and grades and reports sale frequency for PSA 10s, which helps measure how often PSA 10 later prints actually trade on the market.[4][6]
– Specialty card price/value sites: PokéCardValues and similar aggregators maintain market listings and sold data for specific printings (for example, the 4/102 Charizard later print page), which helps confirm active interest and realized prices for later‑print PSA 10s.[2][3]
– Auction houses / market reports: Auction houses and collectible marketplaces (examples reported in hobby press and price aggregators) record high‑value sales and population notes; these sources illustrate the huge premium for true first‑edition/shadowless PSA 10s versus later prints.[1][4]
Practical guidance for collectors who care about rarity
– If “extremely rare” is your target: seek first‑edition shadowless PSA 10 Charizards (or known ultra‑low‑population variants). These are dramatically rarer and more expensive than 4th‑print PSA 10s.[5][4]
– If you want a PSA 10 Charizard but prefer affordability and availability: later‑print (4th print / Base Set reprint / Base Set 2) PSA 10s provide the Charizard PSA 10 experience with much higher market availability and lower cost; expect multiple listings over months and occasional verified sales in public price databases.[4][6][2]
– To confirm rarity for a specific listed card: request the exact PSA certification number and verify it through PSA’s Cert Verification tool, and cross‑check recent realized sales in PriceCharting or auction records to understand actual market frequency and demand.[4][6]
Limitations and notes about available data
– Public population totals: PSA publishes population reports for some cards and grades but these change as collectors submit more cards; population data for a specific “4th print” Charizard variant can differ depending on how databases classify the print (Base Set reprint vs. Base Set 2 vs. shadowless vs. 1st‑edition) and may require looking at multiple sources to confirm.[4][6]
– Variant identification matters: “Charizard #4” can refer to several printings (1st‑edition shadowless, reprint editions, Base Set 2), so rarity statements must be tied to the exact variant—market data clearly shows huge differences between those variants.[2][3][5][6]
– Market fluctuation: Prices and sale frequency fluctuate with collector sentiment, economic conditions, and high‑profile sales; historical price aggregators reflect these movements but are not static predictors of future availability or value.[4][6]
Representative supporting sources used
– PriceCharting (Charizard #4 and Shadowless listings) for grade‑by‑grade prices, observed PSA 10 sale frequency, and market volume data.[4][5][6]
– PokéCardValues pages for specific Charizard 4/102 variant listings and price notes that distinguish print runs and recorded sales history.[2][3]
– Hobby and auction reporting that contrasts the market for first‑edition/shadowless Charizards and later reprints, demonstrating the difference in rarity and realized prices between print variants.[1][4]
If you want, I can:
– Look up the current PSA population counts and recent verified PSA 10 sales for the exact Charizard variant you mean (give the print designation: 1st‑edition shadowless
