Did the 4th print run of Pokémon Base Set cards include the famous “Yellow Cheeks” Pikachu? No, it did not. The 4th print run, which was released only in the UK, stuck with the corrected red cheeks version and did not bring back the yellow ones[1].
To understand this, we need to go back to the very beginning of Pokémon trading cards in the West. Pokémon cards exploded onto the scene in 1999 with the Base Set, printed by Wizards of the Coast. The star of the show was Pikachu, card number 58 out of 102. This little yellow mouse with rosy cheeks became an instant icon. But right from the start, there was a mix-up with those cheeks. The artist, Mitsuhiro Arita, drew Pikachu with yellow cheeks. That’s how he pictured them, especially since in the Pokémon world, Pikachu’s cheeks glow yellow when it builds up electricity for an attack like Thunderbolt. It made perfect sense to Arita[1].
Wizards of the Coast, the company handling the English prints, saw the artwork and thought the cheeks should be red. They changed the color to red without asking Arita. This created the “Red Cheeks Pikachu” that showed up in the very first 1st edition prints, shadowless prints, and even the special E3 promo version. Many collectors today call this the error version, but it’s actually the one Wizards pushed at launch[1].
As time went on, Wizards realized their mistake. They switched back to Arita’s original yellow cheeks. This “Yellow Cheeks Pikachu” appeared in later print runs of the unlimited Base Set cards. You can find them out there today, and they sell for decent prices on sites tracking old card sales. For example, a near mint Yellow Cheeks Pikachu from 1999 has gone for around $3.59 in recent eBay sales, while graded ones like PSA 3 versions have hit $54 or more depending on condition[2]. A PSA 4 even sold for $20 back in 2024[2]. These yellow cheek cards are real, they’re from official Wizards prints, and they’re prized by collectors who hunt for these subtle differences.
Print runs in early Pokémon were marked in simple ways. The 1st edition had a stamp in the bottom left. Shadowless cards lacked the drop shadow on the art box. Then came unlimited prints with full shadows and no 1st edition mark. Wizards kept reprinting as demand skyrocketed. The yellow cheeks showed up in some of these unlimited runs after the initial red cheek blunder got fixed[1].
Now, what about that specific 4th print run? This one is a bit niche. It was a later reprint of the Base Set, made exclusively for the UK market. Collectors talk about it because it fixed other small printing glitches, like a yellow ink smudge on the back of some Gengar cards that looked like a flexed arm or a slanted number 7. That ink hickey was on earlier prints, including one 1st edition and some unlimited ones, but the 4th print cleaned it up[1]. Importantly, this UK 4th print used the red cheeks Pikachu. It did not include the yellow cheeks version. The switch back to yellow had happened earlier in other unlimited prints, but by the time of the 4th print, Wizards was consistent with red[1].
Why does this matter to collectors? Early Pokémon cards are full of these tiny variations that turn a simple pack into a treasure hunt. The yellow cheeks Pikachu is one of the most talked-about because it’s tied directly to the artist’s vision versus the printer’s choice. Mitsuhiro Arita has confirmed in interviews and through Bulbapedia’s deep dives that yellow was his intent. Pikachu’s cheeks aren’t just decoration—they light up yellow in the anime and games during charges. Red was a Western assumption that got corrected[1].
People sometimes confuse this with other “error” cards. For instance, there’s the 1st Edition Ivy Pikachu promo from Jungle packs. That one had green ivy on its tail that folks thought was a mistake, but it turns out it was an intentional secret rare, backed by Japanese magazine proof from “Pokémon Card Trainers Vol. 2″[1]. Or the Gengar ink blot we mentioned—fixed in the 4th print[1]. These stories add layers to collecting. You might pull a yellow cheeks Pikachu from an old unlimited pack and feel like you hit the jackpot, even if it’s not as rare as a 1st edition.
The Base Set Pikachu card itself is straightforward. It’s number 58, a common in the set, with Pikachu ready to zap with 60 HP, Thunderbolt for 40 damage, and a retreat cost of 1. No crazy attacks, just pure Pikachu charm. But the cheek color turns it into a variant hunt. Prices fluctuate based on grade—Beckett graded BGS 4 yellow cheeks have sold for $19.99, PSA 4 for $20, and lower grades even cheaper[2]. It’s accessible for new collectors dipping into vintage.
Pikachu’s role in Pokémon history goes way back. The franchise started with games in Japan, Red and Green versions in 1996, pushing trading between kids. Cards followed in 1996 there, Base Set in the West by 1999. Pikachu was already the mascot, second most popular after Jigglypuff in early surveys[4]. Artists like Arita captured that energy, but printing hiccups created these legends.
If you’re hunting a yellow cheeks Pikachu today, check unlimited Base Set packs from mid-print runs, not the 1st edition or shadowless which are red, and definitely not the UK 4th print. Sites like PriceCharting track sales to show real market value[2]. Condition matters a ton—near mint or graded ones hold value best.
Collectors share stories about these cards flooding back childhood thrills. One person recalled staring at a Fossil Articuno as an adult, hit with waves of nostalgia from kid days opening packs[5]. Pikachu variants spark similar feelings. Imagine cracking a pack in 1999, seeing those yellow cheeks glow under the light, knowing it’s the “real” Arita version.
Other print quirks pop up too. Team Rocket sets had their own corrected errors, but Base Set laid the foundation[1]. The 4th print’s UK exclusivity makes it tough to find outside Europe, and its red cheeks keep it standard, not special like yellow.
In the big picture, these details show how Pokémon cards evolved from simple kid stuff to a collector’s dream. Wizards fixed the cheeks issue mid-way, but not everywhere. Yellow cheeks live on in specific unlimited prints, fetching prices that reward patient hunters[2]. The 4th print? Solid cards, but red cheeks only[1].
Digging deeper, Arita’s artwork style shines here. He did many Base Set holos, capturing Pokémon’s personality. Yellow cheeks fit Pikachu’s electric nature perfectly. Wizards’ change was likely a color correction assumption—red for blush, maybe—but Arita wanted attack-mode yellow[1].
Modern collectors grade these via PSA or BGS. A yellow cheeks PSA 3 sold for $3.25 wa
