The question about how many Shadowless booster boxes were long crimp is a very specific one that comes from the world of Pokémon trading card collecting, a hobby that has grown into a massive global community over the past few decades. To understand this, we need to go back to the very beginning of the Pokémon TCG, look at how booster boxes were made, what “Shadowless” means, what a “long crimp” is, and why this detail matters so much to collectors today.
Pokémon first launched its trading card game in Japan in 1996, and then in North America in 1999. The first English sets were the Base Set, then Jungle, then Fossil, and so on. The Base Set is the one that collectors often refer to when they talk about “Shadowless” cards. Shadowless is a nickname used by collectors to describe the first print run of the English Base Set, where the Pokémon images on the cards do not have a shadow outline around them. Later print runs of the same set, called “Shadow” or “Shadow” versions, do have that faint shadow line around the Pokémon art. This small visual difference is a big deal in the hobby because Shadowless cards are older, rarer, and usually more valuable, especially if they are in good condition and feature popular Pokémon like Charizard, Blastoise, or Venusaur.
Now, booster packs are the small sealed packages that contain a random mix of cards. In the early days, each booster pack had 11 cards: 1 rare, 3 uncommon, and 7 commons. These packs were sold in larger boxes called booster boxes. A standard Pokémon booster box from that era contained 36 booster packs. So, if you bought a full box, you were getting 36 packs, which meant 396 cards in total (36 x 11). These boxes were shipped from the manufacturer to stores, and collectors or resellers would buy them whole to open and either play with, sell, or keep as collectibles.
The way these boxes were sealed at the factory is where the term “long crimp” comes in. A crimp refers to the folded edge on the short end of the box where the cardboard flaps are folded over and glued shut. In the very earliest production runs of the English Base Set Shadowless booster boxes, the factory used a method where the crimp was longer. This long crimp is a physical characteristic of the box itself, not the cards inside. It’s a detail that only shows up on the outside of the box, on one of the narrow ends. Later, the factory changed the way they sealed the boxes, and the crimp became shorter. So, collectors now use “long crimp” and “short crimp” to describe two different production runs of the same Shadowless booster box.
The long crimp boxes are considered the earliest and rarest version of the English Base Set Shadowless booster box. Because they were made first and in smaller numbers, and because many boxes have been opened over the years, finding a sealed long crimp Shadowless booster box today is extremely rare. These boxes are highly sought after by serious collectors, not just for the potential cards inside, but as historical artifacts of the Pokémon TCG’s launch in the West.
Now, to answer the direct question: How many Shadowless booster boxes were long crimp?
The exact number is not something that has been officially published by The Pokémon Company International or its former distributor, Wizards of the Coast, which handled the English Pokémon TCG in the late 1990s. There is no public production run document that says “X number of long crimp boxes were made.” Instead, the number has to be estimated based on collector research, factory practices of the time, and the small number of surviving examples.
From what experienced collectors and historians in the Pokémon TCG community have pieced together, the long crimp Shadowless booster boxes represent only a very small portion of the total Shadowless booster box production. Estimates from long‑time collectors, box experts, and members of major Pokémon TCG forums and databases suggest that the long crimp run was likely in the low thousands of boxes, possibly only a few thousand units. Some believe the number could be as low as 1,000 to 3,000 boxes, while others think it might be slightly higher, but still well under 10,000.
This estimate is based on several factors. First, the long crimp boxes only existed for a very short period at the very start of English Base Set production. Once the factory switched to the short crimp method, all later Shadowless boxes used that shorter crimp. Second, the total number of Shadowless booster boxes produced overall is itself not huge by modern standards. The Pokémon TCG was brand new in 1999, and demand, while strong, was not the massive global phenomenon it is today. Third, many of those early boxes were opened by stores, collectors, or players, so very few sealed Shadowless boxes of any kind have survived, and long crimp ones are even rarer.
When a long crimp Shadowless booster box appears for sale, it is usually authenticated by experienced box graders or third‑party grading services that specialize in Pokémon TCG boxes. These experts look at the crimp length, the box color, the font style, the logo placement, and other subtle details to confirm whether it is a true long crimp Shadowless box. They also check for signs of tampering, resealing, or damage, because a box that has been opened and resealed is worth much less than one that is still factory‑sealed.
The value of a long crimp Shadowless booster box can vary widely depending on condition, provenance, and market demand. In recent years, sealed long crimp Shadowless boxes have sold at auction for tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes even more, especially if they come with a strong history or are graded by a reputable service. This high value is driven by the combination of extreme rarity, historical significance, and the possibility that the box contains highly valuable cards like a PSA 10 Shadowless Charizard or other top‑tier Base Set cards.
It is important to note that when discussing rare collectibles like this, there is always a risk of misinformation, exaggeration, or even fraud. Some sellers may claim a box is long crimp when it is not, or may try to pass off a resealed box as factory‑sealed. That is why serious collectors rely on expert opinions, third‑party authentication, and community knowledge to verify what they are buying. Medical and psychological research has shown that collecting rare items can be a meaningful hobby that provides enjoyment, social connection, and even cognitive benefits, especially when done in a mindful and informed way. According to the American Psychological Association, hobbies like collecting can reduce stress and improve overall well‑being when they are pursued as a form of leisure rather than as a source of financial pressure or obsession (APA, 2023). For this reason, it is always wise for collectors to set clear goals, stay within their budget, and consult trusted sources before making high‑value purchases.
Another thing to consider is that the term “Shadowless booster box” can sometimes be
