Among Pokémon cards, several were **only ever printed in 1st Edition form**, meaning they never had unlimited or later edition printings. These cards are particularly rare and valuable because their entire existence is limited to that initial print run, which was smaller and marked with the “1st Edition” stamp on the card.
The most notable examples of cards printed **exclusively as 1st Edition** come from the **Base Set** era, the very first Pokémon Trading Card Game release in 1999. Some of these cards were never reprinted in unlimited or subsequent sets, making their 1st Edition versions the only ones in existence.
Key cards that were only printed in 1st Edition form include:
– **1st Edition Shadowless Base Set Cards**: The original Base Set had a “Shadowless” print run, which was a transitional printing between the 1st Edition and the Unlimited print runs. However, some cards exist only as 1st Edition Shadowless and were never reprinted later. For example, certain Trainer cards and some Pokémon cards in the Base Set were exclusive to 1st Edition printings.
– **1st Edition Holo Charizard (Base Set)**: While Charizard was reprinted many times, the **1st Edition Base Set Holo Charizard** is unique in its combination of the 1st Edition stamp, shadowless border, and holofoil. This specific printing is highly prized and was never exactly replicated in later sets[4].
– **1st Edition Shadowless Cards**: The “shadowless” cards are a subset of the Base Set cards printed without the shadow on the right side of the Pokémon image. The 1st Edition Shadowless cards are rarer than the Unlimited print run cards, and some cards in this category were only printed in 1st Edition form before the Unlimited print run began[4].
Beyond the Base Set, most Pokémon cards have been reprinted in various forms, including unlimited editions, promotional prints, or in later expansions. However, some promotional cards or special releases were only ever printed once, often as 1st Edition or limited promo cards, but these are generally outside the main sets and not always marked as “1st Edition.”
The **Base Set 1st Edition cards** are the most famous and valuable group where exclusivity to 1st Edition printing applies. This includes:
– **1st Edition Shadowless Base Set Holo Charizard**
– Other 1st Edition Shadowless Base Set holographic cards like Blastoise, Venusaur, and Alakazam
– Certain Trainer cards and basic Pokémon cards from the Base Set that were never reprinted in unlimited form
The rarity and value of these cards stem from their limited print run and the fact that after the 1st Edition run, the Pokémon TCG moved to unlimited printings with different card borders and no 1st Edition stamp, making the original 1st Edition cards unique collectibles[4].
Authoritative sources such as auction records and grading companies like PSA confirm the exclusivity and value of these 1st Edition cards. For example, a PSA 10 graded 1st Edition Base Set Holo Charizard sold for $420,000 in 2022, underscoring its rarity and desirability[4].
In summary, the Pokémon cards that were **only printed in 1st Edition form** are primarily from the **Base Set Shadowless print run**, including iconic holographic cards like Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur, as well as some Trainer cards. These cards were never reprinted in unlimited or later editions, making their 1st Edition versions the only ones available and highly sought after by collectors[4].
