Are 4th Print Cards Undervalued Compared to Shadowless? Let’s dive deep into this question about Pokémon trading cards from the original Base Set, breaking it down step by step in plain, everyday language so anyone can follow along. Pokémon cards have turned into a big deal for collectors, with some fetching crazy prices at auctions, but not all old cards are equal. Shadowless cards come from an early print run of the 1999 Base Set, right after the very first 1st Edition ones. They have no shadow under the artwork, which makes them special to many fans. 4th Print cards, on the other hand, are from a later batch in the same Base Set, often called Unlimited prints toward the end of that printing wave. These have a tiny drop shadow under the picture, and they’re way more common because Wizards of the Coast kept printing them to meet huge demand back then.[1]
To understand if 4th Prints are undervalued, we need to look at what makes cards valuable in the first place. Value comes from three main things: rarity, condition, and nostalgia. Shadowless cards are rarer because they were printed early, before the company added that shadow to make cards easier to see in stacks. Only a limited number got made that way, so fewer exist today in top shape. 4th Prints? They’re from when printing was in full swing, so millions more were produced. That alone drops their price tag big time.[1][4] For example, take a common card like Pikachu from Base Set Shadowless number 58. A PSA 10 graded version of that one sells for about $369 right now, based on recent sales data. Ungraded Shadowless Pikachu goes for around $15, and even mid-grades like PSA 8 hit $46.[2] Now compare that to a similar 4th Print or Unlimited Pikachu from the same set. Those ungraded ones often sell for just a few bucks, and PSA 10s might top out at $50 to $100 if you’re lucky, though exact sales for plain 4th Prints are harder to pin down because they’re not tracked as much.[1]
Grading changes everything here. PSA is the gold standard for grading cards, checking for scratches, centering, edges, and corners on a scale up to 10. A PSA 10 means gem mint, perfect in every way. Shadowless cards in PSA 10 are hot because so few survive that pristine. For big holos like Charizard from Base Set Shadowless or 1st Edition, prices explode into tens or hundreds of thousands.[1][3][4] A 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard PSA 10? We’re talking $150,000 to $250,000 easy.[1] Even non-holo Shadowless like Pokedex number 87 have decent value in high grades, with sales data showing steady demand.[5] But 4th Print Charizard? A PSA 10 Unlimited (which includes late prints like 4th) might go for $1,000 to $5,000 on a good day, sometimes less if the market cools.[1] That’s a huge gap. So are 4th Prints sleeping on value? Kind of yes, because they’re from the same iconic set, feature the same artwork and Pokémon, but cost a fraction to buy.
Let’s talk print runs to make this clearer. The Base Set had multiple printings marked by a tiny number in the bottom left corner. 1st Edition is marked “1” and ultra-rare. Shadowless are mostly 1st, 2nd, or 3rd prints without the shadow, still scarce. 4th Print means the fourth wave, fully Unlimited with shadows, and by then production was massive to feed the Pokémon craze. Wizards printed until they couldn’t keep up, so 4th Prints flooded stores. Today, that means supply is high, pop reports (how many PSA 10s exist) are bloated, and prices stay low.[4] Vaulted Collection points out that true scarcity wins long-term, like vintage sports cards with fixed supply. Pokémon’s top dogs are 1st Edition and Shadowless because fewer got graded high over time. Modern sets with high print runs? They flop in value.[4][1]
But here’s where 4th Prints might shine as undervalued gems. They’re cheaper entry points for new collectors chasing that 90s vibe without dropping a house payment. A 4th Print Blastoise holo PSA 10 could be $500 to $2,000, while Shadowless versions push $10,000 plus.[1][3] Same Pokémon, same set, but you save big. And nostalgia doesn’t care about print number for casual fans. Kids who grew up slamming these on tables remember the artwork, not the shadow. If Pokémon keeps booming—Card Ladder data shows 3,821% returns since 2004—then even common Unlimiteds could creep up slowly.[4] Look at Chansey from Base Set. A 1st Edition Shadowless holo PSA 10 sold for $55,000 in 2020.[3] Regular Unlimited Chansey? Pennies compared, but still holds some charm.
Market trends back this up. Shadowless dominate top sales lists. Wargamer’s 2025 roundup of priciest cards has Shadowless and 1st Eds everywhere, like Gold Star Rayquaza at $48,958 or test print Charizards over $100k.[3] 4th Prints barely crack those charts. PriceCharting tracks Shadowless specifically because they have their own buzz, with recent sales like $23.75 for near mint Pikachu in late 2025.[2] Unlimiteds blend into “Base Set” generics, undervalued because buyers chase the hype words like “Shadowless.” SportsSurge guide says Unlimiteds have lower entry cost but less prestige, yet some holos still pull $1,000 to $10,000 in PSA 10 if popular.[1]
Condition is king for both, but easier to find pristine 4th Prints since more survived unplayed. Shadowless got beaten up in the 90s rush. Graded pop counts matter too—PSA graded 15.3 million cards in 2024 alone, flooding mid-tier slabs.[4] For 4th Prints, high supply means PSA 10s are common, killing scarcity hype. But for patient holders, that’s opportunity. Buy low-grade 4th Print holos cheap, crack and resubmit for better grades, or just hold as nostalgia bets rise.
Investor angle: Shadowless are proven rockets. 1st Edition Base icons like Venusaur PSA 10 at $10k-$20k show track record.[1] 4th Prints? More like steady climbers if Pokémon stays hot. Vaulted says long-term value sticks to icons, not chase cards.[4] But with Pokémon matching sports cards in maturity after 25 years, undervalued late prints could ride the wave. Pikachu Illustrator hits millions, proving franchise power lifts all boats a bit.[1][4]
Visual appeal ties in too. Shadowless have cleaner, brighter holo patterns without the shadow dulling it. Fans geek out over that cris
