Did 4th Print Charizards Come in Blister Packs? Let’s dive deep into this question about one of the most famous Pokemon cards out there, the holographic Charizard from the original Base Set. Collectors often debate the details of different print runs, and the “4th print” specifically refers to a later batch of the Base Set released in 1999, after the initial unlimited print waves. To answer straight up: no, 4th print Charizards did not come in blister packs. They were packed into booster packs inside booster boxes, just like the other unlimited prints from that era. Blister packs were a different product type used for single cards or small bundles, but they did not contain 4th print Base Set Charizards. I’ll explain why step by step, walking through the history, packaging facts, collector evidence, and what makes print runs special, all in plain simple words so anyone can follow along.
First, picture the Pokemon card craze kicking off in 1999. The Base Set was the very first big expansion, with 102 cards total, including that shiny holo Charizard as card number 4/102. It was the card kids dreamed of pulling, with its fierce dragon art, fire breath attack, and 120 hit points that made it feel unbeatable. The set launched with a super rare “1st Edition” print run, marked by a little stamp on the cards. Once those sold out fast, Wizards of the Coast, the company handling Pokemon cards in English back then, switched to “unlimited” prints. These unlimited versions dropped the stamp and had slight changes in the artwork borders and drop shadows to tell them apart from shadowsless or 1st Edition cards.
Now, print runs like the 4th print were just later waves of these unlimited Base Set cards. They are identified by a tiny black dot or symbol in the bottom left corner of the card’s artwork area. For the 4th print, it’s usually a small black circle or indicator showing it was from that specific production batch. These dots helped factories track which printing press or run a card came from, kind of like a secret code for quality control. Unlimited prints, including the 4th, kept coming out through 1999 and into early 2000 because demand was wild. Kids were ripping open packs everywhere, from toy stores to grocery checkouts. But all these cards, no matter the print run, got sealed into the same style of booster packs: those shiny foil packs with Charizard, Blastoise, or Venusaur on the front, holding 11 cards each. A full booster box had 36 packs, and that’s how 4th print Charizards entered the world, tucked away in those boxes shipped to stores[4][1].
Blister packs were something else entirely. Think of them as those clear plastic bubbles hanging on pegboards at stores, often with one or a few cards visible inside for impulse buys. In the early Pokemon days, Wizards did release some blister products, but they were mostly for promo cards, jungle set singles, or special bundles, not Base Set holos like Charizard from any print run. For example, there were Charizard blisters from later sets or reprints, but nothing tying back to the original Base Set 4th print. Blister packs usually held non-holo commons or specific chase cards, and they were way less common than booster packs. No collector records or official lists show 4th print Base Set Charizards packed that way. If they had, it would be huge news because blisters preserve cards better sometimes, leading to higher grades and bigger values[1][4].
Why the confusion then? A lot of it comes from memory mix-ups or seeing modern reprints. Take the Pokemon Celebrations set from 2021, which reprinted the classic Base Set Charizard as card 4/102. That one shows up in price guides with sales data, like PSA 10s going for hundreds of dollars recently. But Celebrations came in booster bundles and boxes, not blisters either, and it’s a reverse holo reprint, not the original 4th print. People sometimes blur old and new together online. Forums buzz with stories of “blister Charizards,” but digging in, those are usually Fossil set blisters or Japanese exclusives, not Base Set 4th prints[2]. Another mix-up is with theme decks or starter sets, which had fixed card lists without holos like Charizard, sold in boxes, not blisters[4].
Let’s break down the packaging world of 1999 Pokemon even more. Booster packs were the main way to get random cards, including rare holos. Each pack promised a mix: mostly commons, some uncommons, a rare, and maybe an energy. The foil wrapper made them exciting to open. Stores stacked booster boxes on counters, and kids saved allowance for a few packs. Theme decks came pre-made for playing right away, with names like Overgrowth or Fire, but no holo Charizard guaranteed. Then there were jumbo cards or structure decks later on, but again, blisters stayed niche. Wizards focused on volume with boosters to meet the hype. By late 1999, when 4th print runs hit, print quality improved a bit—less centering issues or ink fades compared to 1st Edition—but packaging stayed standard[4][5].
Grading data backs this up too. Sites tracking sales show tons of graded 4th print Charizards, like PSA 5s from 1999 selling around $195 back in sales records. High grades are rare because early cards got played with, bent, or washed in pockets. But every listing traces back to booster pack pulls, not blisters. Blister cards often grade higher due to less handling before opening, yet 4th prints don’t show that pattern[2]. Bulbapedia’s full list of expansions confirms Base Set as the starter, followed by Jungle and Fossil, with no blister mentions for those core holos[5].
Zoom out to the bigger Pokemon timeline for context. After Base Set, expansions like Neo Discovery in 2001 or EX sets in 2004 kept the booster pack tradition alive. Some later sets had blister singles, like EX FireRed & LeafGreen promos, but originals stuck to boxes. Gold Star Charizards from EX Dragon Frontiers or movie promos like Ancient Mew were ultra-rare pulls from packs or special wrappers, not blisters[1][5]. Even prerelease Raichu stamps were tournament handouts, never blister-packed.
Collectors hunt print run differences today for value. A 1st Edition Charizard can hit insane prices, like $420,000 for a PSA 10 in 2022, but 4th prints are more common and affordable, still cool for nostalgia[1][4]. Spotting a 4th print? Look for that black dot under the artwork, clean borders, and no stamp. They’re from when Pokemon fever peaked, schoolyards trading binders full for one.
Fakes add another layer. Bootlegs mimic prints, but real 4th prints have crisp Wizards logo and specific dot placement. Always check with graders like PSA. No medical angle here—no health risks from collecting unless you’re allergic to dust o
