Some Charizards in the Pokémon Trading Card Game have 1999-2000 dates printed on them because those markings come from the very first English-language print runs produced by Wizards of the Coast, the original company that brought Pokémon cards to the West starting in late 1999. These dates show up in the fine print at the bottom of the card, like in the copyright line, and they mark cards from the Base Set and early expansions made during that exact two-year window when Pokémon cards exploded in popularity worldwide. Let’s break this down step by step so it’s crystal clear why these dates appear on certain Charizards and what makes them special.
First off, picture this: Pokémon started as a video game in Japan in 1996, but the trading cards didn’t hit English-speaking countries until 1999. Wizards of the Coast, the folks who also made Magic: The Gathering, got the license from Nintendo and Creatures Inc. to print and sell the cards in English. Their first big release was the Base Set, often called Series 1 or Pokémon 151 because it featured the original 151 Pokémon from the Red and Blue games. Charizard, the fiery dragon Pokémon everyone loves, is card number 4 in that set—a holographic rare that’s always been a collector’s dream. The cards from this 1999 print run have a copyright notice saying something like “©1995, 1999, 2000 Wizards of the Coast” or slight variations, reflecting the years of development and production.[3][5]
Why 1999-2000 specifically? It ties directly to the printing timeline. The Base Set rolled out in January 1999, right as Pokémon mania—called Pokémania—swept North America. Stores couldn’t keep them stocked; kids were trading them at school, and shortages hit hard by April 1999. Wizards printed massive amounts, but the very first batches, known as 1st Edition, have that distinct no-expansion-symbol look, light gray borders, and soft holo foil. Then came the Unlimited prints later in 1999 and into 2000, with small changes like a tiny “B” symbol for Base Set on some. The 1999-2000 date spans these because printing didn’t stop overnight—factories churned out packs through 2000 to meet demand from the booming fad.[2][3]
Now, not every Charizard has these dates. That’s the key to spotting them. Later reprints and sets dropped the Wizards name altogether. In 2003, Nintendo switched printing to their own company, Pokémon USA, so cards from Jungle, Fossil, or newer sets like Neo Destiny might say “©1995-2001” or different years without the Wizards tie-in. But the classic holographic Charizard from Base Set? If it says 1999-2000 in the copyright, it’s from those Wizards runs. Take the famous 1st Edition Base Set Charizard: bottom text reads “©1995, 1999, 2000 Wizards of the Coast, INC. Pokémon USA, INC.” That’s your smoking gun for an original 1999-2000 card.[3][5]
Collectors go nuts over these because they’re the true originals. The first print runs had quirks—soft holo patterns that shimmer differently, no revision marks, and sometimes printing errors that add rarity. For example, some Base Set cards from 1999-2000 UK prints have “yellow shifts,” where yellow ink slides right or down, messing up the art. Or look at error Charizards like Blaine’s Charizard from Gym Challenge, an expansion printed around the same time—early Unlimited versions had a wrong Fighting Energy symbol instead of Fire, fixed late in 2000 runs.[5] These aren’t fakes; they’re factory mistakes from rushed production during peak Pokémania.
Speaking of value, a pristine 1999-2000 Base Set Charizard graded PSA 10 can fetch $300,000 or more at auction, while ungraded ones go for $15,000 to $30,000. Why? Rarity from low survival rates—kids played with them hard, sunlight faded holos, and poor storage bent edges. Compare that to a modern reprint: same artwork, but no 1999-2000 date, darker borders, and a set symbol, worth hundreds instead.[1][3]
But wait, there’s more to these dates than just Base Set. Promotional Charizards from 1999-2000 campaigns also carry them. Bulbapedia lists unnumbered promos like the Grand Party 1999-2000 Murkrow or even jumbo English Charizard inserts from March 2000 CoroCoro magazines. Tournament prizes, like the 1999 Tropical Mega Battle cards (not Charizard, but same era), were handed to top players in Hawaii and feature Exeggutor nods. These promos often lack standard rarity symbols and have those early copyright dates, making them ultra-rare.[1][4]
How do you tell a real 1999-2000 Charizard from a fake? Check the details. Real ones have centered text, specific font weights, and that exact copyright phrasing—no “Pokémon Company International” which came way later. The holo pattern on Charizard’s wings should have a soft, rainbow shift, not crisp modern foil. Borders are light gray, not black. And always get it graded by pros like PSA or Beckett— they verify print runs and slap a number like PSA 9 or 10, boosting value big time.[3][6]
Dig into the history, and you see why Wizards used 1999-2000. Pokémon TCG started in Japan in 1996 with Base Set there, but English localization took time. Beta test cards, like the Japanese Beta Presentation Charizard with old rules (four-energy Firespin, no Energy Burn tweak), predate this but aren’t English. Wizards finalized rules by October 1996 standards, printed in 1999, and dated through 2000 as expansions like Jungle (1999) and Fossil followed. By 2000, sets like Team Rocket and Gym Heroes/Challenge kept the 1999-2000 copyright on many holos, including more Charizards like Blaine’s.[1][5]
Errors piled up because of the frenzy. Dark Charizard from Team Rocket had “black tape obstruction” on some Unlimited non-holos, bleeding ink over art. Holofoil Dark Dragonite attacks weren’t centered. Even Dark Arbok accidentally printed “©1999-23000 Wizards”—a typo that stuck uncorrected. These 1999-2000 mishaps make error-hunting fun for collectors, turning flaws into fortunes.[5]
Globally, the dates match Pokémania’s peak. From 1998-2000, Pokémon went worldwide—anime on Kids’ WB in February 1999 drew record views, cards sold 200,000 Red/Blue game copies in a month. Scarcity hit Europe too, with UK yellow-shift Base Set commons from 1999-2000 prints.[2][5]
Fast-forward, and these Charizards symbolize the hobby’s roots. Shining Charizard from Neo Destiny (200
