The number of Shadowless Blastoise cards without a rarity symbol is extremely limited and not precisely documented in public records, but it is known to be very rare and highly sought after by collectors. The Shadowless Blastoise is part of the original 1999 Pokémon Base Set, specifically from the early print runs before the addition of the shadow border around the card’s artwork, which distinguishes it from later versions. These Shadowless cards also typically have no rarity symbol (such as a star) in the bottom right corner, which is a key feature that collectors use to identify them.
Shadowless Blastoise cards without a rarity symbol are considered among the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards. This rarity stems from the fact that the Shadowless print run was very limited, produced only in the earliest stages of the Base Set release. Over time, many of these cards were lost, damaged, or heavily played, reducing the number of high-quality surviving copies. Estimates suggest that only a few thousand Shadowless Blastoise cards exist in total, but the exact count of those without any rarity symbol is not publicly confirmed by official sources or grading companies like PSA or Beckett.
The rarity is further emphasized by the fact that only about 2,500 graded copies of the English Base Set Blastoise exist, with only around 80 achieving the highest PSA 10 grade, which includes Shadowless versions among them. Cards without the rarity symbol are even scarcer within this group. The absence of the rarity symbol is a hallmark of the earliest print runs, making these cards particularly prized by collectors who focus on Base Set variants.
In addition to the Shadowless feature, some Blastoise cards are known as “Presentation Blastoise,” which are unique promotional cards with only two known copies, but these are distinct from the Shadowless Base Set cards and are not typically without rarity symbols.
The value of Shadowless Blastoise cards without rarity symbols can be very high, often reaching tens of thousands of dollars or more depending on condition and grading. The combination of no shadow, no rarity symbol, and high-grade condition makes these cards some of the most coveted in the Pokémon collecting community.
Authoritative sources such as PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) and auction records from reputable houses like Goldin Auctions confirm the extreme rarity and value of these cards. PSA grading population reports show very limited numbers of Shadowless Blastoise cards without rarity symbols, and auction sales have demonstrated their high market demand and price.
In summary, Shadowless Blastoise cards with no rarity symbol exist in very limited quantities, likely only a few thousand or fewer, with only a fraction surviving in high-grade condition. Their rarity and condition make them some of the most valuable and sought-after Pokémon cards in existence.
