Collectors consistently bring up one complaint about fourth print cards: they’re flooded with them. The market is oversaturated with fourth print copies of popular sets, which means prices have stalled and resale value remains frustratingly low. A fourth print Base Set Charizard, for instance, might sell for under $100 raw, while a first edition version of the same card commands thousands. This isn’t a new observation—it’s been the reality for years, and experienced collectors have stopped expecting fourth print runs to appreciate meaningfully.
The frustration runs deeper than just price. Collectors say fourth print cards lack the scarcity that drives interest in earlier printings. When millions of fourth print copies exist, owning one feels less like owning something rare and more like owning something common. For grading and investment purposes, fourth print cards are often viewed as the floor of a set’s value range, not a stepping stone to higher tiers.
Table of Contents
- Why Are Fourth Print Cards Valued So Much Lower Than Earlier Prints?
- The Supply Problem That Keeps Prices Flat
- How Grading Services Handle Fourth Print Cards Differently
- Should You Bother Grading Fourth Print Cards?
- The Quality Variance Problem Within Fourth Prints
- The Graded Set Completionist Perspective
- What Does the Future Hold for Fourth Print Cards?
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Fourth Print Cards Valued So Much Lower Than Earlier Prints?
Fourth print cards are simply more abundant in the market. pokémon expanded production significantly during popular set releases, meaning fourth and subsequent print runs involved much larger print volumes than the initial runs. Basic economics applies: supply crushes price when demand doesn’t scale with quantity. A first edition card had limited production windows and stricter distribution constraints, making every copy rarer by design.
The collector mentality also favors scarcity. Graded first editions and unlimited shadowless cards carry prestige because owning one proves you either found an old copy or paid a premium. Fourth print cards, by contrast, are readily available. A collector can find a raw fourth print copy on any marketplace for a fraction of what a first edition sells for, which kills the exclusivity factor entirely. Even if a fourth print card is in pristine condition, its grade might be 9 or 10, but the base price ceiling remains low because too many people can acquire one.
The Supply Problem That Keeps Prices Flat
The printing volume for fourth and later runs fundamentally changed the market landscape. Pokémon knew they had a hit on their hands by the time fourth editions rolled around, so they ramped up production to meet retail demand. this means millions of fourth print packs were opened, and millions of cards entered circulation. Storage practices also mean many fourth print cards survived in decent condition simply because people kept them safely without intending to do so, flooding the market with unexpected supply years later.
Here’s the limitation collectors face: even if a fourth print card is rare in its specific condition or holo pattern variant, it’s still a fourth print. A mint condition fourth print Blastoise might be worth $50 to $100, while the same card in first edition can reach $1,000 or more. The print line itself becomes a price ceiling that’s difficult to break through. Collectors searching for investment potential quickly learn to skip fourth prints entirely and focus on earlier runs, which further reduces demand for fourth print inventory.
How Grading Services Handle Fourth Print Cards Differently
PSA and BGS approach fourth print cards no differently in their grading standards—a 10 is a 10, regardless of print run. However, the market pricing for those grades diverges sharply. A PSA 10 first edition Base Set Charizard might list for $50,000, while a PSA 10 fourth print version lists for $1,500. The services don’t penalize fourth prints during assessment, but the market clearly does during valuation.
This creates a disconnect where graders are evaluating condition fairly, but buyers are factoring in print scarcity into their offers. Some collectors note that fourth print cards sometimes show more quality consistency than earlier prints, meaning high grades are easier to achieve. A fourth print run might have better centering or cleaner corners than the chaotic first edition printing, making PSA 9s and 10s more attainable. This abundance of high-grade fourth prints further deflates their value—there’s simply more supply of pristine copies available.
Should You Bother Grading Fourth Print Cards?
Most experienced collectors advise against submitting fourth print cards for grading unless they have specific value or you’re completing a graded set for collection purposes. The grading fee (typically $20 to $100 per card, depending on service) often exceeds the price bump you’ll see in resale. A raw fourth print card selling for $30 might become a PSA 8 selling for $45, meaning you lose money on the grading investment.
There’s a tradeoff to consider: grading protects a card physically and provides authentication, which matters if you’re storing expensive cards long-term. For a fourth print in excellent condition, that protection might be worth the cost even if resale value doesn’t justify it financially. But for most fourth print inventory, grading remains a poor investment decision. Collectors who grade fourth prints tend to do so because they love the cards personally, not because they expect returns.
The Quality Variance Problem Within Fourth Prints
Not all fourth print copies are created equal, even within the same print run. Pokémon’s printing presses introduced variations in centering, holo patterns, and ink saturation that persist across copies. Some fourth print cards have noticeably better holo quality or sharper printing than others, yet the market doesn’t differentiate them much in pricing. A fourth print with exceptional holo pattern might sell for slightly more, but rarely does the premium reflect the actual rarity of that specific variant.
This is where collectors express frustration: you could own two fourth print cards that look identical to a casual observer, but one has slightly better centering and holo quality. The graded one might be worth $10 more, hardly worth the investment. Meanwhile, first editions with similar variations can command substantial premiums simply because they’re first editions. Fourth print collectors are stuck in a market where the print designation itself is a much larger factor than condition-based variants.
The Graded Set Completionist Perspective
For collectors building graded sets, fourth prints are unavoidable for certain cards where earlier prints have become impossibly expensive. A graded Base Set rainbow set might include a fourth print Charizard simply because acquiring a first edition version would cost five figures. In this context, fourth prints serve a practical purpose—they’re the only realistic way to complete certain sets without spending a fortune.
Collectors pursuing this strategy accept that their fourth print cards will never appreciate. They value completion and the ability to display a full set more than investment potential. For these collectors, the fourth print stigma matters less because they’re making a deliberate tradeoff: affordability for the sake of collection completeness. It’s a valid approach, but it requires acknowledging that fourth prints remain at the bottom of the value hierarchy regardless of condition.
What Does the Future Hold for Fourth Print Cards?
Older fourth print cards from the 1990s and early 2000s may eventually experience some price appreciation simply because they become harder to find in good condition. Time is a filter—damaged copies get discarded, stored copies degrade, and supply naturally dwindles. A fourth print card in mint condition decades from now could be more valuable than one in excellent condition today, if only because fewer pristine examples will exist.
However, this appreciation will likely remain modest compared to earlier prints. The reality is that fourth print cards will probably never break through their current price ceiling without a major shift in collector mentality. The market has established a clear hierarchy where print designation matters more than almost any other factor. For practical collectors, fourth prints remain useful for completing affordable collections, but for investors, they represent opportunity cost—capital that could go toward earlier prints with genuine upside potential.
Conclusion
What collectors keep saying about fourth print cards boils down to this: they’re abundant, overpriced relative to their supply, and unlikely to appreciate. The oversaturation of fourth print inventory from larger production runs has created a permanent floor on their value. Even in pristine, graded condition, fourth prints struggle to command meaningful prices because the market prioritizes scarcity, and fourth prints simply aren’t scarce.
If you’re considering fourth print cards for your collection, do so with clear expectations. They serve a purpose for budget-conscious collectors and set completionists, but they’re not a vehicle for price appreciation. Experienced collectors allocate their budgets toward earlier prints where rarity justifies the premium and where future appreciation is more plausible. Fourth prints have a place in Pokémon collecting, but that place is decidedly practical rather than aspirational.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a fourth print card ever worth grading?
Only if you’re completing a graded set and need the card regardless of cost, or if you genuinely love the card and want to protect it for long-term storage. For resale purposes, the grading fee usually exceeds any value increase.
Can a fourth print card ever be valuable?
Yes, if it’s a rare holo variant, has exceptional quality within its print run, or is from a particularly popular and now-scarce set. However, the ceiling remains far below equivalent first edition cards.
Why didn’t Pokémon limit fourth print production like they did with first edition?
By the fourth print, demand had proven enormous, and Pokémon wanted to maximize supply to meet retail demand and minimize shortages. They didn’t anticipate the collecting investment market that would later prioritize scarcity.
Should I avoid fourth print cards entirely?
Not if you’re collecting for enjoyment or need to complete a set affordably. Just avoid viewing them as investments—think of them as pragmatic purchases for your personal collection.
Are fourth prints lower quality than first editions?
Not necessarily. Fourth prints sometimes have better centering and printing consistency than first editions, which had more QC variation. The issue is abundance, not quality.
Will fourth print prices ever increase significantly?
Unlikely. Time may reduce supply through natural attrition, but the print designation itself will remain a limiting factor on price appreciation.
