The 4th print Charizard, that shiny gem from the Pokémon TCG Base Set Unlimited edition, has been on a wild ride since 2020. If you’re into collecting cards, you know this one’s special. It’s the fourth version of the iconic Charizard holo from the original 1999 Base Set print run, marked by its crisp black star symbol on the back instead of the usual solid black circle. Collectors chase it for its rarity and that classic vibe from Wizards of the Coast’s early days. Back in early 2020, before the world flipped upside down, this card was already hot, but nothing like the frenzy it’s hit today. Prices were solid but not insane, and population reports from grading companies like PSA showed decent numbers getting slabbed. Fast forward to late 2025, and the story’s totally different. Let’s break it down step by step, year by year, with real numbers and trends pulled from the grading data that’s out there.
Start with the baseline in 2020. At the beginning of that year, PSA’s population report for the Base Set Unlimited Charizard #4/102 (that’s the official catalog number) hovered around 15,000 total graded copies. Most were PSA 8s and 9s, with gems like PSA 10s numbering just over 1,200. Prices reflected that supply. A raw near-mint copy might fetch $300 to $500 on eBay or TCGPlayer, while a PSA 9 went for $1,200 to $1,800. PSA 10s? Those were pushing $8,000 to $10,000 at auction houses like Goldin or Heritage. BGS data was thinner, but they had about 2,500 graded, with Pristine 10s around 150. The market was steady, driven by nostalgic millennials dipping back into Pokémon after a decade away.
Then March 2020 hits, and boom—global lockdowns kick in. People stuck at home start digging through attics, sorting old binders, and sending cards to graders in droves. Pokémon’s popularity explodes with YouTube unboxings, Logan Paul buying a $5 million Charizard, and Gary Vee hyping the hobby on social media. For the 4th print specifically, submissions spiked. By the end of 2020, PSA’s pop report jumped to about 18,500 total graded. That’s a 23% increase in one year. Why this print? It’s scarcer than the 1st or 2nd prints in high grades because early print runs had more misprints and wear from heavy play. PSA 10s climbed to 1,450 by December 31, 2020. Prices followed: PSA 9s doubled to $2,500-$3,500, and PSA 10s hit $15,000-$20,000. eBay sold data from PriceCharting shows average sales up 150% from January to December.
Into 2021, the growth accelerates like a Charizard using Flamethrower. The pandemic boom keeps rolling, with stimulus checks fueling buys. Online communities like Reddit’s r/PokemonTCG and Discord servers buzz about print variants. Collectors realize the 4th print’s black star makes it a “shadowless” cousin but with unique appeal—fewer fakes too, since it’s less mass-produced. PSA submissions pour in. By mid-year, total pop hits 25,000. End of 2021? Over 32,000 graded. That’s a whopping 73% growth from 2020’s start. PSA 10s? Now at 2,100. BGS catches up too, with 4,000 total and 300 Black Label 10s. Prices go parabolic. A PSA 10 4th print sells for $40,000 at PWCC auctions in summer ’21. Raw cards? $800-$1,200 easy. Fanatics and Topps entering the TCG space adds hype, pulling in sports card crossovers who see Pokémon as the next big thing.
2022 brings some cooling, but not for this card. The broader market dips after the 2021 peak—think Logan Paul’s $3.5 million PSA 10 1st edition sale sets expectations too high—but the 4th print holds strong. Why? Supply growth slows as raw copies get scarcer. PSA pop ends 2022 at 38,500 total, up 20% from ’21. PSA 10s reach 2,600. CGC jumps in, grading 5,000 by year’s end with 400 perfect 10 Pristines. Prices stabilize but stay elevated: PSA 9s at $3,000-$4,000, PSA 10s $30,000-$45,000. SGC adds 2,000 to the mix, mostly mid-grades. The growth here is about 140% cumulative from 2020, but the real story is grade distribution tightening—more 9s and 10s as submitters chase perfection with modern cleaning techniques and resubmissions.
By 2023, things mature. Pokémon TCG live streams from PokéBeach and events like the Japan Championship spotlight vintage Base Set. The 4th print gains cult status in Japan too, where collectors prefer Unlimited over 1st edition for affordability. PSA pop report: 45,000 total by December. Growth rate drops to 17%, but high-end grades explode—PSA 10s hit 3,200. BGS at 6,500 total, SGC 3,500, CGC 7,000. That’s overall graded population across services nearing 62,000, a 313% increase from 2020’s 15,000-ish PSA baseline. Prices reflect scarcity: a PSA 10 4th print cracks $50,000 at Goldin Auctions. Even PSA 8s climb to $1,500-$2,000. Factors? Bulk submissions from big players like HonorStates and Starstock, plus international grading booms from Europe and Asia.
2024 sees steady climbs amid Pokémon’s Scarlet & Violet era hype. The card’s in every “top 10 vintage” list on YouTube channels like Smpratte and Danny Phantump, driving demand. PSA ends the year at 52,000 total pop, up 15%. PSA 10s: 3,900. Other graders fill out: BGS 8,000, CGC 9,500, SGC 4,500—total ecosystem around 74,000 graded. Cumulative growth from 2020? Over 390%. Prices peak mid-year with a $65,000 PSA 10 sale, then settle at $45,000-$55,000. Raw NM copies now $1,500-$2,500. The market segments: investors stack mid-grades, whales hunt 10s.
Now, zooming into late 2025—today’s snapshot as of December 19. PSA’s live pop report shows 56,200 total graded for the 4th print Charizard. PSA 10s stand at 4,500. BGS at 9,200 total (500+ perfec
