The question of how many Shadowless Venusaur cards are still ungraded is one that fascinates collectors, investors, and fans of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. To answer this, we need to look at the history of the card, how it was produced, how many might have survived, and what the current market tells us about its availability. This article will break down each of these points in a simple, easy-to-understand way, so even someone new to Pokémon cards can follow along.
First, let’s clarify what a Shadowless Venusaur card is. The Venusaur card from the original Base Set, numbered 15/102, is one of the three original starter Pokémon final evolutions, alongside Charizard and Blastoise. The “Shadowless” version refers to a very early print run of the Base Set in English, where the card’s artwork lacks the shadow border that later prints have. This makes Shadowless cards rarer and more sought after by collectors. The Shadowless print run was only available for a short time before the shadowed version became standard, which is why these cards are so special today.
Now, how many Shadowless Venusaur cards were originally made? Pokémon card production numbers from the late 1990s are not publicly available, but experts estimate that the entire English Base Set print run was in the millions. However, the Shadowless subset was a much smaller portion of that. Some collectors and historians believe the Shadowless print run was only about 10-20% of the total Base Set production. Even so, that still means tens of thousands of Shadowless Venusaur cards could have been printed. But that’s just the starting point—many factors have reduced that number over the years.
A huge number of these cards were played with by children, traded, lost, or damaged. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, most people didn’t think of Pokémon cards as collectibles or investments. Cards were often handled roughly, stored in binders or shoeboxes, and some were even thrown away. This means a significant portion of the original print run is no longer in existence. Only a fraction of the original cards have survived in good enough condition to be worth grading today.
Grading is the process where a professional company like PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) examines a card, checks its condition, and assigns it a grade from 1 to 10. Graded cards are sealed in protective cases, which helps preserve them and proves their authenticity. Many collectors prefer graded cards because they know exactly what they’re getting. But not every surviving Shadowless Venusaur has been graded—far from it.
So, how many Shadowless Venusaur cards are still ungraded? There is no official count, but we can make some educated guesses based on sales data and collector activity. Websites that track card sales, like the price guide, show that PSA has graded thousands of Shadowless Venusaur cards over the years. For example, the price guide lists sales volume for different grades: PSA 10 (the highest grade) has about two sales per month, while lower grades like PSA 8 have about one sale per day, and ungraded cards have about three sales per day[3]. This suggests that while many cards have been graded, there are still plenty of ungraded copies changing hands regularly.
But here’s the thing: the number of ungraded cards is shrinking over time. As the value of Shadowless Venusaur has risen—especially for high-grade copies—more and more collectors are sending their cards in for grading. A PSA 10 Shadowless Venusaur can sell for over $2,000, while even ungraded copies in good condition can fetch several hundred dollars[3]. This financial incentive means that whenever a nice, ungraded Shadowless Venusaur surfaces, it’s likely to be graded sooner or later.
There are still ungraded Shadowless Venusaur cards out there, though. Some are sitting in old collections, forgotten in attics or basements. Others are held by people who don’t follow the Pokémon card market and don’t realize what they have. And some are in the hands of collectors who simply prefer to keep their cards raw (ungraded) for personal reasons. But every year, as more people learn about the value of these cards, more ungraded copies are discovered and sent in for grading.
The rarity of high-grade Shadowless Venusaur cards also tells us something about how many might still be ungraded. PSA 10s are extremely rare because the card is over 25 years old, and it’s very hard to find one that hasn’t been touched, scratched, or worn in some way. The fact that only a handful of PSA 10s come up for sale each month suggests that most surviving copies have some flaws, and many of those are still ungraded[3]. If there were thousands of mint-condition Shadowless Venusaur cards still out there, we’d see more PSA 10s on the market.
Another way to estimate the number of ungraded cards is to look at how many are listed for sale online. Sites like eBay and Etsy often have ungraded Shadowless Venusaur cards available, but the listings are not endless. This suggests that while ungraded copies exist, they are not so common that you can find one anytime you want[4][6]. The market is active, but the supply is limited.
It’s also worth noting that the Shadowless Venusaur is not the rarest card in the Base Set—that honor goes to the 1st Edition Shadowless print, which is even harder to find. But even the unlimited Shadowless version is much rarer than the regular shadowed Base Set cards. This adds to its appeal and value, and it means that the pool of ungraded cards is smaller than for more common prints.
In summary, while we can’t know the exact number, it’s clear that there are still ungraded Shadowless Venusaur cards in existence, but their numbers are dwindling as more are discovered and sent in for grading. The combination of age, initial print run size, attrition over time, and the current collector market all point to a finite and shrinking supply. For anyone who owns one of these cards, especially in good condition, it’s a piece of Pokémon history that’s becoming harder to find with each passing year.
If you’re interested in the medical aspects of collecting—such as the potential for repetitive stress injuries from handling cards, or the importance of good lighting and posture when examining collections—it’s always best to consult authoritative health sources like the Mayo Clinic or the CDC for advice on safe collecting habits. For example, the Mayo Clinic recommends taking regular breaks, using proper lighting, and maintaining good posture to avoid strain when engaging in any hobby that involves close work or repetitive motions. Always prioritize your health and well-being, even when pursuing your passions.
The story of the Shadowless Venusaur is a microcosm of the broader Pokémon card market: a blend of nostalgia, rarity, and the thrill of the hunt. As more cards are graded and enter the permanent collector record, the number of ungraded copies will continue to fall. For now, though, there are still some out
