1st Edition Charizard Pokémon Card

1st Edition Charizard Pokémon Card

The pinnacle of collectable and valuable Pokémon cards

The Pokémon Trading Card Game (or PTCG) is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon franchise created by Nintendo. The cards and game were first published in Japan in October of 1996. The game allows its players to take on the role of a Pokémon trainer, and use the cards for Pokémon, items, and abilities to battle an opponent trainer and their Pokémon. Statistics like health and damage amounts, special conditions and abilities, and power-ups can be found on and used with these cards as the player takes turns strategically battling with their opponent. There are many different ways of purchasing and trading Pokémon cards, and the rarity associated with them typically increases the desire for them and boosts their value. Pokémon cards can be purchased in stores through individual packs, booster boxes, promo card packs, and pre-constructed decks. Cards can also be bought through websites or individual online sellers. The rarity and value however comes from the uncertainty of the store bought card packs. These packs do not come labeled with their card contents, and instead have a sort of mystery-unboxing aspect where the buyer does not know what they will be getting. This fact combined with the already existing legitimate rarity of specific lesser-printed cards leads them to be extremely desirable, such as the 1st edition Charizard card. This card comes solely from the very first English set of Pokémon cards ever printed (1999), and it was also the first English Charizard card ever. A few more factors influencing the value of Pokémon cards are their ability to perform in the PTCG, their level of admiration from fans of the franchise, and their rating based on physical quality of the card. Because most kids didn’t care much about maintaining their Pokémon cards’ perfect condition back in 1999, finding this specific card in great shape has become even more rare. All of these factors have led the first edition Charizard card to be the single most desirable and valuable card of all time, with its highest selling price being $36,000 USD.

Nintendo, Creatures, Hudson Soft

Nintendo, Media Factory

October 1996 - Present

Physical card game involving decks of trading cards and sometimes mats to play on

Japanese, English