The population count for the 4th print Venusaur from the Pokémon Base Set refers to how many of these specific cards have been professionally graded by services like PSA, with data showing limited tracking compared to other prints. This 4th print run, released exclusively in the UK around 1999-2000, corrected earlier errors like the Vulpix HP formatting issue, where previous prints listed it as “HP 50” instead of the standard “50 HP”.[1] Unlike the unlimited prints of Venusaur, which often show blue ovals from missing yellow ink due to water drips on the printing plate, the 4th print avoided many of those widespread printing flaws seen in earlier unlimited versions.[1] Collectors chase these because they represent a scarcer corrected variant from the original Base Set era, when Pokémon cards first exploded in popularity back in the late 1990s.
To understand the population count, we need to look at grading data from major authenticators like PSA, which slab and assign numeric grades from 1 to 10 based on condition. For context, the 1st Edition Venusaur #15 has a much larger graded population: PSA reports 65 cards at grade 1, 91 at grade 2, 154 at grade 3, 264 at grade 4, 439 at grade 5, 479 at grade 6, 446 at grade 7, 568 at grade 8, 717 at grade 9, and 144 at PSA 10, totaling thousands across all grades.[2] This high count reflects its status as a premium collectible, with PSA 10 gems fetching over $14,000 recently.[2] Shadowless or unlimited Venusaur #15 also sees significant grading, though exact totals aren’t broken out here, with PSA 10s around 2,128 in value terms from sales data.[3]
The 4th print Venusaur stands out for its rarity in grading reports. Unlike the 1st Edition’s detailed census, public data for the 4th print doesn’t provide a full breakdown of PSA grades per level, suggesting a much smaller overall population submitted for grading.[1] This UK-exclusive run was produced later to fix errors like the Vulpix HP misprint, which carried over from 1st Edition, Shadowless, and early unlimited prints but got properly formatted as “50 HP” in this version.[1] Printing errors in unlimited Venusaur, such as those blue ovals scattering across the card from yellow ink shortages, were common enough to appear on many copies, but the 4th print shifted away from those issues as production stabilized.[1] No exact total pop report exists in standard databases for this specific print, unlike Erika’s Venusaur from Gym Challenge, which has PSA populations like fewer than 100 at high grades such as PSA 10.[4]
Why is the 4th print population count so elusive? Pokémon Base Set prints evolved over time: 1st Edition for the earliest hype, Shadowless without the shadow on the copyright line, unlimited for mass production, and then regional variants like the UK 4th print to address lingering errors.[1] The 4th print corrected not just Vulpix but aligned with Fossil set fixes, like Nidoran♂’s formatting from “Nidoran ♂” to proper spacing.[1] Collectors often overlook it because unlimited Venusaur dominates discussions due to its sheer volume and subtle errors like printer hickeys or low ink, similar to issues on Nidoking or Ninetales in the same print runs.[1] Graded examples of 4th print Venusaur rarely surface in pop reports, implying a total PSA population likely under 200 across all grades, far below the 1st Edition’s thousands.[1][2] This scarcity drives value; while ungraded unlimited Venusaur hovers around $60, corrected prints like the 4th can command premiums in the hundreds for near-mint copies, especially if error-free.[3]
Diving deeper into print identification helps explain low population counts. Spot a 4th print Venusaur by its corrected text—no “Monster Ball” slip-ups like early unlimiteds, which got fixed to “Poké Ball,” and proper HP layouts carried over from Fossil corrections.[1] The card art remains the iconic holo Venusaur #15, with its massive flower and poison attacks, but the print line or subtle plate differences mark it as the UK 4th. Water damage on yellow plates caused those blue ovals on regular unlimiteds, making clean 4th prints desirable for error hunters.[1] Population tracking relies on sites like PriceCharting, which update monthly, but they bundle most Venusaur data under general categories, leaving 4th print specifics sparse.[2][3] For comparison, Gym Challenge’s Erika’s Venusaur #4 shows PSA 10 pops in the low dozens, with sales volumes trickling at 3 per year, hinting at how niche later-set Venusaur variants perform.[4]
Historically, the Base Set launched in 1999, with print runs ramping up as demand soared. The 4th print emerged to meet UK demand while ironing out kinks, much like Team Rocket’s gray stamp rarities or Jungle’s corrected errors.[1] Low submission rates keep populations down—many owners stash these in binders, ungraded, fearing the slabbing process might reveal centering flaws common in mass prints. PSA’s census for similar corrected cards, like UK Vulpix fixes, shows pops over 230 total, but Venusaur lags behind due to its holo status drawing more scrutiny.[1] Unlimited Venusaur errors, from Beedrill dots to Ninetales gray text, flood the market, diluting interest, while 4th prints stay under the radar.[1]
Market trends underscore the mystery. Recent sales for standard Venusaur #15 hit $340 near-mint, but 4th print copies, when verified, trade higher due to print scarcity.[3] No medical claims appear in card grading—it’s all about condition, edges, corners, and surface from professional evaluators like PSA, with no health risks involved beyond collector enthusiasm. Population counts fluctuate as more get submitted; today’s data shows 1st Edition at stable highs, but 4th print remains a ghost in reports.[2] Other Venusaur lines, like Gym Heroes or Neo Genesis, have their own pops, but Base 4th ties directly to those early corrections.[4]
Exploring collector forums reveals anecdotes of 4th print Venusaur pulls from old UK booster packs, with populations estimated under 100 PSA-graded based on sales patterns.[1] Unlike error-heavy unlimiteds plagued by obstructions—yellow hairs on Ninetales or hickeys on Nidoking—the 4th print’s clean slate appeals to perfectionists.[1] Grading volume for holos spikes for 1st Editions, with 144 PSA 10s versus perhaps single digits for 4th.[2] This disparity stems from availability: unlimiteds printed in millions, while 4th runs targeted specific markets.[1]
Further, print sequencing matters. Base Set progressed: 1st Ed (stamped), Shadowless (refined), Unlimited (mass), then 4th U
