Not all 1st Edition Pokémon cards have the thinner font style like the Shadowless cards. The thinner font is a specific characteristic primarily associated with the Shadowless Base Set cards, which are distinct from the 1st Edition cards in terms of print run and design details.
To clarify, the original Base Set Pokémon cards had several print variations:
1. **1st Edition Base Set**: These cards feature the iconic 1st Edition stamp on the left side of the card. They are the earliest print run and are generally thicker in card stock compared to later prints. The font used on these cards is typically the standard thickness and style consistent with the Base Set design.
2. **Shadowless Base Set**: This print run came after the 1st Edition and before the Unlimited Base Set. Shadowless cards are named for the lack of a shadow on the right side of the Pokémon image box. One of their notable features is a slightly thinner and lighter font compared to the 1st Edition cards. This thinner font is a hallmark of the Shadowless print run and is not found on all 1st Edition cards.
3. **Unlimited Base Set**: These cards have the shadow on the right side of the image box and use a font thickness similar to or slightly bolder than the 1st Edition cards.
Therefore, the thinner font is a characteristic of the Shadowless cards, not all 1st Edition cards. The 1st Edition cards generally have a thicker font style.
Additional nuances exist in the 1st Edition cards, such as printing errors and variations in the 1st Edition stamp itself. For example, some 1st Edition cards have gray or low-ink 1st Edition stamps, and there are known errors like ink smears or white stamps due to printing issues. These errors do not affect the font thickness of the card text but are notable for collectors[1].
Regarding card thickness, 1st Edition cards are often slightly thicker than Shadowless and Unlimited cards, which can be a way to help identify authentic 1st Edition cards versus later print runs or counterfeit cards. Thickness, font consistency, and print quality are key factors in verifying card authenticity[3].
In summary, **the thinner font style is specific to Shadowless Base Set cards and is not a universal trait of all 1st Edition cards**. The 1st Edition cards typically have a thicker font and other distinguishing features like the 1st Edition stamp, which can sometimes have printing variations or errors but do not include the thinner font style seen in Shadowless cards.
