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Old School Cards
Pokemon
October 20, 1996

Base Set

1996 · base · 102 cards in print run
ABOUT THE SET

This is where the whole hobby starts. Media Factory shipped Japan's first Pokémon Expansion Pack on October 20, 1996 — more than two years before Wizards localized it for the West. Mitsuhiro Arita's Charizard art the world knows? It debuted here. The set runs 102 cards across the original 151-era roster, and the prize for purists is the 'No Rarity' first print, struck before Media Factory added the bottom-right rarity symbol; those early sheets even carry signature text misprints on Charizard and Gastly. Our copies are the standard rarity-symbol (Unlimited) printing — the same iconic holos (Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Mewtwo) in the form most collectors actually handle, with the Japanese cardstock that sets this run apart from the English Base Set.

CornerstoneThe genesis set of the entire TCG. Standard rarity-symbol holos are obtainable; true 'No Rarity' first prints are scarce and command large premiums.
102
Cards in set
1996
Japanese release
Oct 20
Release day
2
Print variants
PRINT QUIRKS · WHAT TO LOOK FOR
  • 1
    First-print 'No Rarity' cards have no symbol in the bottom-right corner; later prints add the circle/diamond/star rarity icon.
  • 2
    No Rarity Charizard has a misprinted category/height/weight box; No Rarity Gastly has a typo in its Destiny Bond attack name (みちずれ instead of みちづれ).
  • 3
    The set predates expansion symbols, so there is no set logo on the card face; the number shown is the National Pokédex number, not an X/102 set number like the English release.
GRADING NOTES

The earliest 'No Rarity' prints carry documented text misprints that are inherent to the print, not gradable defects: every No Rarity Charizard has a botched category/height/weight box, and every No Rarity Gastly shows a typo in its Destiny Bond attack name. Japanese stock tends to center better than the English Carta Mundi run, but the thin foil holos surface-scratch easily; inspect the holo window under raking light.

FULL SET CHECKLIST

Every card in the set, across all 1 edition. Pick an edition to narrow the listed copies; listed cards are clickable.

102 OF 102 CARDS6 LISTED
No. 001BulbasaurCommon—No. 002IvysaurUncommon—No. 003VenusaurHolo Rare—No. 004CharmanderCommon—No. 005CharmeleonUncommon—No. 006CharizardHolo Rare—No. 007SquirtleCommon—No. 008WartortleUncommon—No. 009BlastoiseHolo Rare—No. 010CaterpieCommon—No. 011MetapodCommon—No. 013WeedleCommon—No. 014KakunaUncommon—No. 015BeedrillRare—No. 016PidgeyCommon—No. 017PidgeottoRare—No. 019RattataCommon—No. 020RaticateUncommon—No. 025PikachuCommon—No. 026RaichuHolo Rare—No. 027SandshrewCommon—No. 032Nidoran♂Common—No. 033NidorinoUncommon—No. 034NidokingHolo Rare—No. 035ClefairyHolo Rare$13.95 No. 037VulpixCommon—No. 038NinetalesHolo Rare—No. 050DiglettCommon—No. 051DugtrioRare—No. 058GrowlitheUncommon—No. 059ArcanineUncommon—No. 060PoliwagCommon—No. 061PoliwhirlUncommon—No. 062PoliwrathHolo RareSOLDNo. 063AbraCommon—No. 064KadabraUncommon—No. 065AlakazamHolo Rare—No. 066MachopCommon—No. 067MachokeUncommon—No. 068MachampHolo Rare—No. 077PonytaCommon—No. 081MagnemiteCommon—No. 082MagnetonHolo Rare—No. 083Farfetch'dUncommon—No. 084DoduoCommon—No. 086SeelUncommon—No. 087DewgongUncommon—No. 092GastlyCommon—No. 093HaunterUncommon—No. 095OnixCommon—No. 096DrowzeeCommon—No. 100VoltorbCommon—No. 101ElectrodeRare—No. 107HitmonchanHolo Rare$16.95 No. 109KoffingCommon—No. 113ChanseyHolo RareSOLDNo. 114TangelaCommon—No. 120StaryuCommon—No. 121StarmieCommon—No. 124JynxUncommon—No. 125ElectabuzzRare—No. 126MagmarUncommon—No. 129MagikarpUncommon—No. 130GyaradosHolo Rare—No. 137PorygonUncommon—No. 145ZapdosHolo RareSOLDNo. 147DratiniUncommon—No. 148DragonairRare—No. 150MewtwoHolo RareSOLDDouble Colorless EnergyUncommon—Grass EnergyCommon—Fire EnergyCommon—Water EnergyCommon—Lightning EnergyCommon—Psychic EnergyCommon—Fighting EnergyCommon—Energy RemovalCommon—PotionCommon—Gust of WindCommon—SwitchCommon—BillCommon—Super PotionUncommon—Energy RetrievalUncommon—Professor OakUncommon—ReviveUncommon—DefenderUncommon—Full HealUncommon—PlusPowerUncommon—PokédexUncommon—Pokémon CenterUncommon—Pokémon FluteUncommon—MaintenanceUncommon—Devolution SprayRare—Item FinderRare—Super Energy RemovalRare—Imposter Professor OakRare—Computer SearchRare—Clefairy DollRare—Scoop UpRare—Pokémon TraderRare—Pokémon BreederRare—LassRare—
NOTABLE CARDS · IN OUR STOCK
Mewtwo
SOLD
Pokemonmphp
Mewtwo
Base Set · 1996 · No. 150
$33.950 IN STOCK · 0 CONDITIONS
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