Why Is Base Set Starmie Becoming Scarcer in High Grade?
If you collect Pokemon cards from the original Base Set, you might notice something odd about Starmie, the common card numbered 64/102. High grade versions, like PSA 10 Gem Mint, are getting harder to find on the market. Prices for these top-condition Shadowless Starmie cards tell the story. Back in November 2024, one sold for just 60 dollars. By January 2025, sales climbed to 85 and 86 dollars. In March, it hit 131 dollars, and by late November 2025, a PSA 10 fetched 200 dollars.[1] This steady rise points to fewer pristine copies available.
Base Set cards came out in 1999, and Starmie was printed as a common, so tons were made. Most ended up played with, shuffled, bent, or stored poorly in humid attics and basements for decades. High grades need perfect centering, sharp corners, clean edges, and no surface scratches or print defects. Time wears down even protected cards, but commons like Starmie often got less care than rare holos like Charizard. Survivors in PSA 10 condition are rare because graders are strict on these old WOTC prints.
Shadowless versions, without the drop shadow on the art box, are even tougher. They printed early in the Base Set run and feel more “vintage” to collectors. Demand picks up as nostalgia grows, especially with Pokemon’s 30th anniversary buzz. Raw Starmie still sells cheap, around 0.58 dollars market price with hundreds listed.[4] But slabbed high grades vanish fast. Fewer pop into grading now, as owners hold them or they stay tucked away undiscovered.
Supply shrinks from attrition too. Fires, floods, and moves destroy collections. Some gems sit in slabs but owners list less, betting on future value. Check sales history sites, and you’ll see gaps between high grade Starmie sales, unlike flooded lower grades.[1] If you spot one, it moves quick. For collectors, this means Starmie could join pricier Base Set commons as scarcity builds. Keep an eye on grading population reports for the real count, but trends show high grade supply tightening.
