The exact number of **Shadowless Venusaur cards graded PSA 10** is not publicly disclosed by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), the leading card grading company, but it is known to be extremely limited and highly sought after by collectors. Shadowless Venusaur is a card from the original 1999 Pokémon Base Set, specifically the 1st Edition Shadowless Holographic version, which is one of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards in existence.
To understand the rarity and PSA 10 population of Shadowless Venusaur, it helps to consider several factors:
1. **Shadowless Base Set Cards**: The “Shadowless” designation refers to the early print run of the Base Set cards that lack the shadow on the right side of the Pokémon image box. These were printed before the regular Base Set cards with shadows, making them rarer. The 1st Edition Shadowless cards are even more scarce because they were part of the very first print run.
2. **Venusaur’s Popularity and Rarity**: Venusaur is card #15 in the Base Set and is a holographic card, which means it has a shiny foil background. Among the holo cards, Venusaur is one of the most iconic and desirable, alongside Charizard and Blastoise. However, Venusaur is generally less common in PSA 10 condition than some other cards because the holo foil is prone to scratches and wear, making perfect condition cards very rare.
3. **PSA 10 Population Reports**: While PSA does not publicly release exact population numbers for every card, third-party population reports and auction data provide some insight. For example, listings on auction sites and price tracking platforms show that PSA 10 Shadowless Venusaur cards are extremely rare and command prices in the tens of thousands of dollars. One eBay listing showed a 1st Edition Shadowless Venusaur PSA 10 selling for nearly $70,000, indicating its scarcity and high demand[1].
4. **Price and Sales Volume**: According to the price guide, PSA 10 Venusaur cards from the Base Set can sell for over $2,000, but this figure is often for unlimited or non-shadowless versions. The 1st Edition Shadowless PSA 10 Venusaur is far more valuable, with very few sales recorded, suggesting a very low population[2]. The sales volume for PSA 10 Shadowless Venusaur is typically only a few per month or even less, underscoring its rarity.
5. **Comparison to Other Rare Cards**: Other Base Set cards like Chansey or Charizard have known PSA 10 populations that are also very low, sometimes in the single digits or low double digits. For example, the 1st Edition Shadowless Chansey PSA 10 is known to have only three copies confirmed by Heritage Auctions, highlighting how rare these cards are in perfect condition[4]. Venusaur’s PSA 10 population is believed to be similarly scarce but slightly more numerous than Chansey’s.
6. **Factors Affecting Condition and Grading**: The holofoil on Venusaur cards is delicate and scratches easily, which reduces the number of cards that can achieve a PSA 10 grade. Additionally, early Pokémon cards were often played with rather than preserved, further limiting the number of pristine cards.
In summary, while there is no official public count of exactly how many Shadowless Venusaur cards have been graded PSA 10, the consensus among collectors and auction data indicates that the number is very low—likely in the low double digits or fewer. These cards are extremely rare, highly valuable, and represent some of the most coveted items in the Pokémon card collecting community.
Because PSA does not release exact population data for every card publicly, collectors rely on auction results, population reports from third-party sites, and anecdotal evidence from the community to estimate rarity. The scarcity of PSA 10 Shadowless Venusaur cards is a key driver of their high market value and status as prized collectibles.
