The world of Pokémon trading cards has always been full of surprises, especially when it comes to those shiny Charizard cards that everyone chases. If you’re asking about the booster pack art used for the 4th print run of Charizard packs from the original Base Set, let’s dive deep into what that really means and how it all worked back in the early days of the game.
First off, the original Pokémon Base Set came out in 1999, and it included the famous Charizard card numbered 4/102. This card was a holographic rare that became an instant legend because of its fiery dragon design and powerful attacks. But print runs were a big deal back then. Wizards of the Coast, who handled the English prints at the time, made multiple print runs to keep up with demand. The 1st print had special symbols like a drop or circle on the cards to mark them as early versions. By the 4th print, those symbols were gone, and the cards looked mostly the same as later ones, but collectors still hunt them for tiny differences in centering or print quality.
Now, booster packs from that era didn’t have “Charizard packs” labeled as such. Instead, packs were just Base Set booster packs, and they came in different pack arts based on the print run. The pack wrappers had artwork on the front showing various Pokémon, and the back listed the set details. For the early prints, including up to the 4th, the main pack art featured artwork with Pikachu front and center, waving hello with that classic yellow fur and red cheeks. This Pikachu art was used across the first several print runs because it was the most recognizable mascot.
Specifically for the 4th print Charizard packs—meaning packs from the 4th printing of Base Set that could contain the Charizard #4 card—the artwork stayed consistent with the Pikachu design. Picture this: the front of the pack shows Pikachu standing tall, smiling, with a blue sky background and some Poké Balls scattered around. The text says “Base Set Booster Pack” in bold letters, and there’s a little explosion effect near Pikachu’s tail to make it feel energetic. This art was drawn by Ken Sugimori, the main Pokémon artist, and it was meant to grab kids’ attention right off the shelf. Inside those packs, you had a chance at 11 cards: 5 common, 3 uncommon, 1 rare (which could be your Charizard), 1 energy, and a possible holographic dupe.
Why does the 4th print matter for pack art? Because as print runs went on, Wizards started tweaking things slightly. The 1st print packs had a black stripe on the back indicating “1st Edition,” but by the 4th print, that was dropped for unlimited packs. The front art didn’t change much, though. No special Charizard art on the packs themselves—that’s a common mix-up. Charizard was inside the pack, not on the wrapper. Some people think later sets had themed packs, but Base Set kept it simple with the Pikachu wrapper through at least the 4th and 5th prints.
Let’s break down how these packs were distributed. Back in 1999 and 2000, you’d find them in hobby stores, game shops, or even some supermarkets. A booster pack cost about $2.50 to $3 back then, and kids would buy them hoping for that holo Charizard. The 4th print happened around mid-2000 when the first prints sold out fast. Production ramped up, and factories printed millions more. The pack art helped identify print runs indirectly—look for the copyright date on the back. Early 4th prints might say “©1995,99 Nintendo,” while later ones updated slightly, but the Pikachu front stayed the same.
Collectors today obsess over unopened 4th print packs because they guarantee a chance at a 4th print Charizard #4, which might have subtle differences like brighter colors or better alignment compared to shadowless prints. Shadowless means no black shadows around the card borders, which started around the 3rd or 4th print transition. So, a 4th print pack with Pikachu art could hold either shadowed or shadowless Charizard, depending on the exact batch.
Imagine opening one today. The wrapper crinkles as you tear it, revealing that familiar Pikachu grin staring back before you even peek inside. No fancy foils or rares promised on the front—just pure mystery. That’s part of the charm. People share stories online about finding whole boxes of these at garage sales, where the packs still have that 2000-era dust on them.
But wait, there’s more to the art story. While the main booster pack used Pikachu, there were also jumbo packs and theme decks with different arts. For example, the Base Set Jumbo packs had bigger cards and showed Charizard himself breathing fire on the wrapper, but those weren’t standard boosters and didn’t tie directly to the 4th print numbering. Theme decks like the Base Set Starter Deck had box art with Blastoise or Venusaur, but again, not the booster packs.
Over the years, reprints and revisions muddied the waters. In 2000, Wizards did a “Team Rocket” set with new pack arts featuring Meowth or something edgier, but Base Set stuck to its guns. Japanese prints were different—they had Goro Tanaka art on some wrappers—but English 4th print was pure Pikachu.
Fast forward to modern collecting. Prices for unopened Base Set packs from early prints have skyrocketed. A sealed 4th print booster pack with that Pikachu art can fetch $500 to $1000 or more, depending on condition. Sites track sales where a near-mint pack sold for $540 recently. The Charizard inside drives the value, but the pack art is what seals the nostalgia. People display them in slabs, preserving that Pikachu face forever.
What made this art so effective? It was simple, colorful, and kid-friendly. Pikachu’s big eyes and happy pose made you want to buy it, even if you already had a stack at home. No text overload, just Pokémon energy. Compare that to today’s packs with hyper-rare teases and shiny promos on the wrapper—Base Set kept it pure.
If you’re hunting these, check the back of the pack for clues. The 4th print often has a Wizards of the Coast logo without the 1st Edition mark, and the energy card inside might have a revised layout. But the front? Always that Pikachu.
Speaking of Charizard specifically, the card art inside is Mitsuhiro Arita doing his magic—a fierce orange dragon with wings spread, flames roaring from its mouth. The pack art didn’t preview it, which built suspense. That’s why opening a 4th print pack feels like time travel.
Reproductions exist, so beware fakes. Real 4th print Pikachu packs have crisp printing, no pixelation, and the right paper texture. Communities debate tiny dots or line variations to spot them.
In the bigger picture, this pack art influenced everything after. Later sets like Jungle used Venonat or something quirky, but Base Set set the standard. Without that Pikachu wrapper on 4th prin
