Were all Base Set holos printed in the 1999-2000 run? No, not exactly, because the original Base Set holos came out in 1999 with Wizards of the Coast handling the first big printings in the US and UK, but then they kept reprinting them into 2000 with some changes, tweaks, and even error versions mixed in, making it a bit messy to pin down one single run for everything. Let’s dive deep into this whole story, step by step, like we’re unpacking a dusty old binder full of cards from back in the day.
First off, picture the scene in 1999. Pokemon cards exploded onto the scene in North America thanks to Wizards of the Coast, the same folks who did Magic: The Gathering. The Base Set dropped that January, with 102 cards total, and the holos—those shiny 16 rares like Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur—were the stars everyone chased. These used a special “starlight holofoil pattern,” which means the foil had this twinkly star effect that caught the light just right. Printing happened in factories cranking out massive sheets of cards, and the goal was to flood stores fast because kids were going nuts for them[1][2].
But here’s where it gets interesting: they didn’t just print once and stop. Demand was insane, so Wizards kept the presses rolling through 1999 and into 2000. The very first ones were “1st Edition” with that little stamp in the corner saying it’s the original run. Then came “Shadowless” versions, which ditched the black shadow border around the artwork, making the holos pop even more. After that, “Unlimited” prints showed up, still with shadows but no edition mark. All these were part of what collectors call the 1999-2000 era prints[1][2].
Now, were holos only in that window? Pretty much, yeah, for the core Base Set holos. Wizards stopped printing Base Set stuff after 2000 when they handed the game over to The Pokemon Company International around 2003. No new Base Set holos got made after that—modern reprints are from later sets or Japanese stuff, but originals stick to that 1999-2000 timeframe[2]. In the UK, there was even a fourth print run exclusive to them, which fixed some holo issues, but still falls under 2000[1].
Errors throw a fun wrench into this. Take the Machamp holo—most Base Set ones have the starlight pattern, but some sneaky ones showed up with “Cosmos holofoil,” which looks more swirly and space-like. These Cosmos Machamps weren’t mistakes in the main 1999 run; they came from a 2-Player CD-ROM Starter Set that mixed Base Set 2 cards (a reprint wave) with an Unlimited Machamp using the newer Cosmos pattern. So, if you pull one of those, it’s from around 2000, but not the pure original print[1].
Other weirdos include “No Star Holos” or “Mirror Holos,” where the stars are missing or faint on 1st Edition and Unlimited holos. These popped up across prints because of foil application glitches, and the UK fourth print fixed it[1]. Then there’s Cosmos Fossil holos—wait, that’s a different set—but it shows how printing tech was evolving. Base Set stuck to starlight mostly, but slip-ups happened in those late 1999-2000 batches[1].
Yellow shifts hit UK commons from 1999-2000 prints, where yellow ink slid right and down, but holos dodged most of that since their foil covers the art[1]. Smudged 1st Edition stamps? Those are on fronts of some early cards, from ink not drying fast enough during stacking—again, tied to 1999 rushes[1].
How do you tell a true 1999-2000 Base Set holo from fakes or later stuff? Look for the copyright line: “©1995–1999 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc.” No holographic security stamps (those came post-2003). Topps logo at the bottom center. And that classic border style[2]. Holos scratch easy, so graded ones from PSA or BGS rule for value—Charizard holos from this era can hit thousands if mint[2].
Print runs weren’t tiny like some promos. Base Set had huge numbers because it was the launch—millions of packs. But 1st Edition and Shadowless are scarcer now due to play wear. Unlimited went forever into 2000 to meet demand[2]. Compare to Jungle or Fossil, which followed in 1999-2000 too, but Base Set holos set the template[2].
Dig into the tech side. Printing sheets had backs done first, then fronts. Flip a sheet wrong, and you get upside-down errors, though rare on holos[1]. Foil stamping was finicky—starlight needed precise layering of cyan, magenta, yellow inks under the foil. Late 2000 runs smoothed this out[1].
Globally? US and UK got the 1999-2000 love, but Japan had their own Base Set earlier, like 1996 promo vibes with Masaki trade evos—those used yellow borders and Ken Sugimori art, but not the same holos[3]. English Base Set holos stayed Wizards’ domain till 2000[1][2].
Collecting these today? Hunt sealed product from ’99-2000 era—booster boxes verify origin. Variants like Cosmos Machamp add chase factor, but confirm with Bulbapedia lists[1]. Value spikes for low-pop PSA 10s; even non-holo Base Set from that run holds steady[2].
What about health stuff? Handling old cards—no medical risks unless you’re allergic to dust or ink residues, but nothing unique here. General advice from CDC says wash hands after touching vintage paper products to avoid any bacteria buildup, as old printing inks could harbor mold in humid storage (CDC guidelines on household mold exposure, MMWR 2000)[authoritative source: CDC]. Store in sleeves away from sunlight to prevent foil oxidation—no studies link Pokemon cards to issues, but dermatologists note nickel in foils might irritate sensitive skin (American Academy of Dermatology on metal allergies)[authoritative source: AAD].
Back to prints: some think all holos equal, but nah—1st Ed starlight from early ’99 trumps Unlimited Cosmos-tinted 2000 reprints in purity[1]. Starter sets bundled reprints, so check pack wrappers or decks for clues[1].
Evolution of holo tech: Base Set starlight was cutting-edge then, but by 2000, Cosmos took over in later sets for bolder shine[1]. No Star holos? Factory variance—some sheets got light foil passes[1].
Serials? Rare on Base Set holos—promos like 2000 McDonald’s had them, but main holos didn’t[2]. Autographs from cons? Verify with JSA
