Pokemon trading cards have been a huge part of collecting for kids and grown-ups alike since the late 1990s, and when you dive into the early sets like Base Set, things get really interesting because of all the different print runs. The question about the difference between Base Set 4th Print and Base Set 2 comes up a lot among collectors because these are both reprints of the original Base Set cards, but they are not the same thing at all. Base Set 2 is a full reprint set released later with its own distinct look, while the 4th Print is just one specific batch from the original Base Set’s printing process that has some subtle changes people hunt for.
To start simple, the original Base Set came out in January 1999 in the US from Wizards of the Coast, marking the very beginning of the Pokemon TCG boom. It had 102 cards, including icons like Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur. Right away, there were different versions: the super rare 1st Edition with a special stamp, the unlimited version without it, and then multiple print runs of the unlimited cards as demand exploded. These print runs are numbered on the cards themselves in tiny text near the bottom, like “1st print” or “4th print.” That’s your first big clue. If a card says “Base Set 2” in that spot, it’s from a completely different product. If it says “4th print,” it’s from the original Base Set line.
Base Set 2 hit stores on February 24, 2000, almost a full year after the original. It reprints all 130 cards from the Base Set, but wait, the original was only 102 cards, right? Actually, by then Wizards had added 28 more cards to make it 130 total, including some new holo rares and fixes to artwork or text from earlier prints. No, that’s not quite accurate—Base Set 2 is a straight reprint of the expanded Base Set unlimited cards, but packaged as its own set with a cosmic starry pattern on the backs instead of the original plain black backs. This pattern looks like a subtle galaxy swirl, which is the easiest way to tell Base Set 2 apart at a glance. Every single Base Set 2 card has this starry back design, and it says “Base Set 2” printed right on the card in that bottom text line.
Now, the 4th Print of the original Base Set is different because it’s part of the very first Base Set production wave, not a separate set. The original Base Set unlimited cards went through at least five print runs in 1999 to keep up with crazy demand. The 1st Print has a plain black back like the 1st Edition but no stamp. Then 2nd Print, 3rd Print, and so on, each with slight differences in how they were made. The 4th Print specifically came later in 1999, and one key change is that it dropped the Wizards of the Coast logo from the bottom right of the card backs. Earlier prints like 1st through 3rd have that small WOTC logo there, but 4th and 5th Prints do not. Also, the 4th Print backs still have the plain black design, no stars at all, unlike Base Set 2.
People mix them up because both are unlimited reprints, meaning no 1st Edition stamp, and they look almost identical from the front. The artwork, card numbers, and text are the same 102 cards for the original Base Set prints, while Base Set 2 expands to 130 with extras like the legendary birds in holo form added properly. But flip them over, and boom—starry cosmos for Base Set 2 versus solid black for 4th Print. The print numbering tells the full story: “4th print” means original Base Set from 1999, “Base Set 2” means the 2000 reprint set.
Why does this matter? Collectors care a ton because rarity and condition drive value. Base Set 2 was printed in huge numbers since it came out when the hype was still massive but supply chains were better. A Charizard holo from Base Set 2, card number 4/130, can fetch hundreds in ungraded shape or thousands in top grades like PSA 10, with recent sales showing around $9,900 for gem mint ones, though prices bounce around based on market trends. Original Base Set prints, especially earlier ones like 1st or even 4th, are scarcer because they were rushed out in 1999. The 4th Print isn’t as rare as 1st Print, but it’s still older and from the true original run, so holos like Charizard #4/102 often value higher, sometimes double or more than Base Set 2 equivalents in similar condition.
Errors add another layer of fun and value to these. In original Base Set prints, including some 4th Prints, you find print mistakes like ink-smeared 1st Edition stamps on unlimited cards where wet ink dragged across, creating thick black smears over “Edition.” Or front stamp smears on commons where the black ink blurred during stamping. White stamps or gray stamps on 1st Edition backs from ink transfer issues happen too, mostly on commons and uncommons from early prints. Inverted backs, where the whole back is flipped, show up on some 1st Edition commons, likely from sheets stacked upside down. Base Set 2 had fewer of these wild errors since printing was more refined by 2000, but it did include some corrected versions, like a reprint of Machamp with the Base Set 2 cosmos pattern in certain decks.
Spotting the differences hands-on is straightforward once you know what to check. Hold two cards back-to-back: starry swirl equals Base Set 2, plain black equals original like 4th Print. Check the bottom text: “Base Set 2” is obvious, “4th print” confirms it’s from the 1999 original unlimited wave. Fronts match perfectly for shared cards, but Base Set 2 has those extra 28 cards numbered 103-130 that plain Base Set prints never had. Weights and feels can differ slightly too—older prints like 4th might have minor paper stock variations from rushed production, while Base Set 2 feels more consistent.
Historically, Base Set 2 came after Jungle and Fossil expansions, slotting in before Team Rocket in April 2000. It was Wizards’ way to flood the market with affordable Base Set cards while keeping originals valuable. The 4th Print was just keeping the original alive amid shortages. Today, with Pokemon TCG exploding again thanks to new eras like Scarlet & Violet, these vintage sets draw huge interest. Booster boxes for original Base Set prints are near-mythical, selling for tens of thousands, while Base Set 2 boxes go for less but still command respect.
For new collectors, start with the back pattern test every time. If it’s stars, it’s Base Set 2, a solid entry-level vintage set with 130 cards and decent availability. If plain black with “4th print,” you’ve got a piece of the 1999 origin story, par
