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Image via The Pokémon Company

How to spot a first edition Pokémon card

Here's what to look out for.

If you’re an avid Pokémon Trading Card Game collector, chances are you want to have first edition versions of all your favorite cards to show that you own some of the first printed cards in existence.

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First edition cards are highly sought after because they’re hard to come by and they’re worth more than the other prints of a card due to their rarity.

First edition cards are always in short supply, though, because, as the name sounds, they were the first version to be printed before the second, third, and beyond unlimited print came into effect.

So, how can you find out which of your cards, or the cards you’re looking to collect, are first edition versions?

Image via Nintendo

It’s actually quite simple. On the card, usually on the left of the Pokémon information, there should be a label that says “1st edition.” In some other sets, there can also be a little sphere with a “1” and the letters above it.

If you see that information, then the card you own is a first edition version. If not, it’s unlimited.


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Author
Adam Newell
Assigning Editor. In 2015, Adam graduated from the University of Aberystwyth with a bachelor's in Media and Communications. Working in the industry for over ten years. If it has anything to do with Nintendo and Pokémon chances are you will see me talking about it, covering, and likely not sleeping while playing it.