Base Set 1st Edition Cards: Value Guide
The 1999 Base Set is where the Pokémon TCG began, and its 1st Edition print — identified by the small “Edition 1” stamp on the lower-left of the artwork — was a tiny initial run before the Shadowless and Unlimited printings. That scarcity makes 1st Edition Base Set cards, especially in PSA 10 Gem Mint, some of the most valuable in the entire hobby.
Below are the 1st Edition Base Set cards catalogued on HoloHaul, ranked by 1st Edition PSA 10 value. All figures are PriceCharting realized prices (actual sales) as of May 2026. Click any card for its full breakdown across 1st Edition, Shadowless and Unlimited prints.
1st Edition Base Set cards by PSA 10 value
| # | Card | 1st Edition raw | 1st Edition PSA 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charizard #4 | ~$7,104 | ~$421,925 |
| 2 | Nidoking #11 | ~$214 | ~$14,502 |
| 3 | Poliwrath #13 | ~$300 | ~$13,104 |
| 4 | Magneton #9 | ~$251 | ~$10,545 |
| 5 | Alakazam #1 | ~$625 | ~$10,443 |
| 6 | Clefairy #5 | ~$247 | ~$9,124 |
| 7 | Raichu #14 | ~$341 | ~$8,935 |
| 8 | Ninetales #12 | ~$348 | ~$5,399 |
| 9 | Growlithe #28 | ~$59 | ~$3,525 |
| 10 | Arcanine #23 | ~$87 | ~$2,178 |
| 11 | Dugtrio #19 | ~$99 | ~$2,100 |
The crown jewel
Nothing in the hobby tops the 1st Edition Base Set Charizard #4: a PSA 10 has realized around $421,925. Behind it, the Nidoking #11 (~$14,502 PSA 10), Poliwrath #13 (~$13,104) and Magneton #9 (~$10,545) round out the five-figure 1st-Edition holos.
The Machamp exception
One Base Set holo bucks the trend: Machamp #8. Because every 2-Player Starter Set shipped with a 1st Edition Machamp, its 1st Edition print is actually the common one (~$14), while the Shadowless version (~$55) is the scarcer, pricier card — the reverse of the usual 1st-Edition premium.
Also worth knowing
Charizard’s fellow Base Set starters — Blastoise #2 and Venusaur #15 — are major 1st Edition grails in their own right; see their card pages for the latest figures across each print.
How to spot a 1st Edition
Look for the black “Edition 1” stamp on the left side of the card, below the artwork. Cards without that stamp and without a drop-shadow on the art box are Shadowless (the second print); cards with the shadow are Unlimited (the most common). Always confirm the stamp and overall condition before buying — 1st Edition commands a large premium, so counterfeits and miscategorized listings are common.
How we price cards
All figures are PriceCharting realized prices — completed sales, not asking prices — captured in May 2026. Values move over time; use these as a snapshot and check current sales before buying or selling.