The First Charizard Card Ever Printed
The first Charizard card ever printed was in 1995 in Japan. These cards are called Topsun cards and have the potential of being incredibly valuable.
The Pokemon craze had yet to hit North America as the Japanese Pokemon market was starting to really take off.
1995 Nintendo Charizard Japanese Pokemon Card
If you have something similar to whats pictured above, your Pokemon card is likely real, however, the condition of the one above is Gem Mint meaning perfect condition. The better the condition, the more money it will bring.
Counterfeits, or fake cards, are prominent among collections. Its important to realize you may have a fake card and it would be worth nothing in the market. If you are buying Pokemon cards, read our section about spotting Fake Charizard cards so you do not get ripped off.
A year later, October 20th, 1996, Japan released the official Pokemon Base Set in Japanese which was the first official Pokemon set ever released.
Remember, the chance of pulling a Charizard card from a pack of Pokemon cards was and still is, incredibly rare. The combination of having a cool orange/red dragon artwork along with a low pull-rate means only one thing A very rare card!
1996 Japanese Charizard Pokemon Card
Japanese counterfeit cards are not as common as the English versions, however, they do exist. Were almost always able to spot a fake card simply from the image, as long as the image is clear.
1st Edition Symbol
Shadowless Charizard Pokemon Card
Are Mcdonalds Pokemon Cards Real
The McDonalds Pokemon cards are new, which means the market price isnt really set for them. There are 50 cards in total, 25 normal and 25 holographic cards based on McDonalds. Though they are all different in that they are associated with McDonalds, they are technically reprints of other cards.
Pokemon German First Edition Glurak
Sold in January, 2021 for $37,000
If you come across a First Edition Charizard from the German release, you’ll notice that Charizard’s name is instead “Glurak.”
Also, unlike the English version, you’ll notice the First Edition German version is not shadowless.
That’s true of the other non-English first editions as well.
Of the 900 German first edition Gluraks that PSA has graded at the time of this writing, 50 have received the lofty PSA 10 distinction.
That’s about a 5.5% success rate compared to around 3.7% for the English first edition Charizards, making it relatively easier to find in that condition.
You May Like: Pokemon Sun And Moon Codes Mystery Gift
Low Print Run Charizards
Again, this circles back to the general subject of supply and demand. Put a very popular Charizard card with low print runs into the market and its going to be worth money.
Were always buying all types of Charizard cards that are from low and high print runs, this is simply because we love collecting Pokemon cards.
One of the lowest print runs is arguably the 1st edition Pokemon cards from base set. While there were no official numbers ever released to the public, its known to be one of the shortest print runs for Pokemon.
Is Charizard Card Worth Money
While a number of first-edition cards from the Pokémon TCGs early days are worth some money assuming theyre still in good nick due to their limited availability and age, this specific version of the holographic Charizard absolutely stands out as one of the rarest and most valuable Pokémon cards ever released.
Also Check: Onix Evolution Sword And Shield
Charizard Pokmon Cards In Review
Clearly, collecting high-grade Charizards isn’t the most friendly thing on the pocketbook.
Demand continues to soar as high as the dragon-like character can soar itself.
The video games, television shows, and the cards themselves transformed Pokémon into a worldwide phenomenon and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon.
It’s hard to say if the value of Charizard cards will slow anytime soon as these cards have found their place as some of the most iconic non-sports cards in the hobby.
How Do I See What Grade My Card Is
Third-party professional grading companies, like PSA, BGS, and CGC, focus solely on doing this for their customers. They essentially grade the card, put it in a clear holder, with a label that explains the details of the card.
PSA 9 Charizard Pokemon Card
This takes the guesswork out of seeing a raw card and not being sure if its an EX or Gem Mint.
The difference between EX, NM, or Mint can literally be hundreds, if not thousands dollars.
While lower-graded Pokemon cards are easier to determine the grade from a picture high-graded Pokemon are much different.
Some cards are inked and cleaned, making conditions extremely difficult to see in pictures.
If you have an old Charizard card youre interested in selling or want to know its value, send us a picture and well be glad to help.
Whatever you do, do not bring your collection to a pawn shop or card shop who doesnt know its true value. Contact a trading card expert to get the most for your collection.
Recommended Reading: Hard Won Happiness Pokemon Snap
Ex Dragon Frontiers Charizard Gold Star
Sold in November, 2020 for $30,300
Released in November 2006, the EX Dragon Frontiers set marked the fifteenth main expansion of the EX Series.
Of the 101 cards in the set checklist, there are two rare Gold Star cards: Charizard and Mew .
With the odds of pulling a Charizard thought to be roughly 1 in 144 packs, many collectors never had the fortune of pulling this card from a pack, giving it a reputation as one of the toughest Charizard pulls of any set.
Featuring a stunning image penned by the gifted hands of Masakazu Fukuda, the eye-appeal of this card is also tough to match as the powerful creature breathes fire onto the edge of the card.
Looking To Sell Your Pokemon Collection
Contact us today if you have rare Pokemon cards you are interested in selling for cash!
Base Set 2, Charizard
The card shown above has the same artwork as the previous Charizards except for the Card Number and the set symbol, shown at the bottom right corner outside of the Charizard design.
Base set 2 Pokemon cards are any card you see with the number 2 set symbol at the bottom right, outside of the artwork. These cards will be worth considerably less money than their counterparts from the original Base set Pokemon.
This is for a number of reasons, but the main reason being Base set was the first set and the print runs were smaller. Base set 2 was printed in large quantities. The exact print quantity was never released by Wizards of the Coast.
Non-Holo Charizard, Legendary Collection
The above Charizard is the first Non-holo version of Charizard ever printed, meaning the Box which Charizard is in isnt holographic. These cards are worth considerably less than their holo counterparts, simply because holo cards are harder to obtain, especially in mint condition.
Holo Charizard, Legendary Collection
Cards from the Legendary Collection set can be easily distinguished by the set symbol, a badge, outside the bottom right corner of the Charizard portrait.
Reverse Holo Charizard, Legendary Collection
Holo Charizard from 2002
Non-Holo Charizard from 2002
Read Also: Pokemon Ev Training List
Charizard Pokemon Card Sells For $420k
While the Nintendo hobby has seen a resurgence in popularity for years now, Pokemon cards have had an explosion in value in 2020. Leading the market boom was the Base Set Charizard which has continued to skyrocket in prices.
The popular Pokemon shattered all previous records on March 19 when a 1st Edition Shadowless Charizard sold for $420k at a PWCC auction. The rare collectible was rated a PSA 10 and was in pristine condition.
According to the auction house, only 122 Charizards in the whole world have scored a Gem Mint slab by the grading company. Making the item even rarer is the fact that it was from the sets first edition run and had Shadowless artwork.
The popular Pokemon card has had an interesting sales history as it has seen incredible growth in value year after year. For instance in 2020, Grammy-winning rapper Logic paid $226k for the same 1st Edition Shadowless variant. In 2021, the collectible jumped even higher and auctioned off for $369k before being surpassed at $420k just a year later.
Incredibly, the Base Set Charizard is still not the most expensive card ever sold. That honor still goes to the rare Pikachu Illustrator CoroCoro Comics Promo which went for a mind-blowing $900,000 in February auction. The Japanese card is more scarce due to being a prize in an art contest in 1995.
Pokemon Japanese Topsun Holofoil Charizard
Sold in October, 2020 for $37,600
The Charizard is the most desirable Topsun prism holofoil card.
You’ll notice it features the same imagery used for the cover art of the Pokemon Red videogame released on the Nintendo Game Boy in Japan in 1996.
Though this card features a 1995 trademark date, most believe Top-Seika didn’t distribute them until 1997, after the official Pokemon Trading Card Game launched in 1996.
Don’t Miss: Pokemon Cards In Cereal
Are 1st Edition Pokmon Cards Worth Anything
In the present day, the first edition card is still extremely valuable and was the tenth card in the set. There are currently 80 PSA 10 graded copies of the Mewtwo card, and theyll easily sell within the five-figure range. The most powerful of the original Pokémon, only the cards saw above tend to be as valuable.
Error Or Misprinted Charizard Cards
Ive seen many Error Pokemon cards through my years of collecting and I guarantee that Charizard cards have the least amount of errors on them.
Why? Because the combination of high demand for Charizard and the fact many collectors love errors makes these incredibly hard to find when they do come around.
Whether the card is off-center or its entirely an error with a missing print or upside down back, the card will bring a nice premium. If you think you have a misprinted card, check out this extensive guide we wrote all about error Pokemon cards.
Charizard error cards are rare, and they are usually minor. Error cards will typically be worth 2 to 3 times over their typical value depending on if you find the right buyer.
If you need help determining if your Charizard is an error card send us a clear picture and well get back to you within 24 hours.
Read Also: Where To Find A Fire Stone In Pokemon Y
Cheap Vs Expensive Charizards
If youre trying to figure out the difference between a cheap Charizard and an expensive one, the first place youll look at is the type of card.
Sometimes its hard to determine the type of card you have, which is why you should follow this guide. If your card looks similar to the one pictured below, theres a chance your card isnt worth very much, especially if the condition is played.
Sometimes a few key indicators can mean the difference between an expensive and cheap Pokemon card. The above diagram shows a card, to the left, that is extremely expensive vs a card, to the right, that is very cheap in played condition.
The thing about expensive and cheap Pokemon cards is the market is constantly changing. New release Charizard cards have a chance to be valuable depending on numerous factors that we go over in this guide. If youre unsure what you have, feel free to contact us today wed be glad to help you!
The value of this Charizard GX in played condition is about $15. When on the other hand if you were to have a 1st edition Charizard from base set in played condition, as shown earlier in the guide, youd be looking at potentially thousands of dollars in your hand.
Charizard GX cards were printed in the masses, and relatively brand new being printed in 2019. A general rule of thumb for modern Charizard cards is the cooler the artwork, the more money it will potentially bring.
Pokemon French First Edition Dracaufeu
Sold in February, 2021 for $37,300
The First Edition Dracaufeu, or the French name for Charizard, is also relatively easier to find in PSA 10 condition than the English version.
Though only 28 examples have achieved that grade, PSA has only graded 382 overall, meaning that roughly 7% of them are PSA 10s.
Recommended Reading: Pokemon Go Evolution Items Chart
History Of Your Charizard Card
Before we begin, its important to have a basic understanding of the factors which determine the value of your Charizard card. To get the most money for your Charizard Pokemon card, if youre like me, youll want to educate yourself a little bit before.
If you dont want to spend the time, you can always send us a picture of your Charizard or collection and well tell you how much its worth.
When it comes to Pokemon cards in general, Im the biggest nerd youll ever meet! I hope this guide on Charizard cards will help you determine the best solution when it comes to selling or finding the value of your old Pokemon cards.
How To Know If Your Charizard Pokmon Card Is Rare And Valuable Or Not
Charizard
Paul Tassi
Time is a flat circle, and it seems like just yesterday I was spending my allowance every week on Pokémon cards in junior high. Well, now Pokémon cards, and opening them on Twitch streams and in YouTube videos, are all the rage again, and it turns out some of those cards you got as a kid may be valuable today, if you kept themand kept them in good shape.
Wading into the exact valuation of all Pokémon cards is a swamp that its hard to emerge from, so I thought Id focus on one particular type of card which was coveted when I was a kid. I saved it because I thought it might be worth something someday, and it turns out I was right. Well, depending on which version you have.
Here is a gradient scale on which of the old school Charizard cards are the most and least valuable. Exact figures for selling prices are hard to pin down. The low end might be a few hundred, the higher end for the rarest Charizard editions can be tens of thousands, if not over $100K for true perfection. The prices below are estimates and again, its a wide range. If yours isnt here at all, it may be too common to be worth all that much. These cards are also usually PSA 9-10 graded meaning they have to be in stellar condition, not just sitting in a shoebox somewhere, in order to see these ranges of prices.
2016 Pokémon XY Staff Charizard Prerelease
Charizard
Game Freak
2002 Legendary Collection Charizard Reverse Holo
Charizard
Game Freak
2002 Legendary Collection Charizard Holo
Don’t Miss: Greninja Vs Ash’s Greninja
Pokemon Korean First Edition Charizard
Sold in March, 2021 for $40,000
Unlike some of the other first edition Pokemon cards distributed in different regions and languages in 1999, the Korean version did not debut until a year later in 2000.
Still, they can fetch colossal price tags on the open market just like the other first edition sets.
Not surprisingly, the Charizard is the most desirable of the Korean first edition series.
Pokemon Portuguese First Edition Charizard
Sold in April, 2021 for $44,850
Only two Portuguese first edition Charizards have ever been graded PSA 10 out of the 34 submitted to PSA as of this writing.
Just two…
Given how the market for Pokemon cards has soared recently and the scarcity of this card in PSA 10 condition, I’m surprised this didn’t sell for an even higher price.
Still, $44,850 is impressive and speaks to the strength of the Pokemon brand and the Charizard character, in particular.
You May Like: Pokemon Characters Names And Pictures
How To Grade Your Pokemon
Now, its time to understand a major factor when determining the value of any Pokemon card.
The grade, or condition, is typically based on a 10-point numerical scale used across all grading companies, CGC, BGS, and PSA.
Certified Guaranty Company defines a 10 as The card must have perfect centering and no evidence of any manufacturing or handling defects.
Rare Varieties & Types Of Charizards
Lets discuss the types of Charizard cards. Charizard cards come from many different sets printed at different periods of time. Depending on when yours was printed could mean the difference of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The majority of Charizards we see are poor condition GX-era cards. These are considered one of the most common types and is likely the type of Charizard you have in your hands.
The condition, artwork, and language are all very important when trying to determine the value of any Charizard or Pokemon card in general.
Read Also: Pokemon Go Not Recording Steps
Most Valuable Charizard Pokemon Cards
In today’s red-hot market, the demand for Charizard Pokemon cards has never been hotter.
Considering that Charizard is easily one of the most iconic characters in the entire franchise, it’s easy to understand why card prices continue to soar…
And much of Charizard’s popularity can be traced to its debut as the cover mascot of the original Pokémon Red video game.
Since then, the dragon-like character has developed into an icon for the Pokemon franchise and collectors are willing to pay huge price tags for some Charizard cards.
Some of them are among the most expensive Pokemon cards in the hobby.
And in this guide, we take a look at the 15 most valuable of them all.
Let’s jump right in!
Base Set: Unlimited Edition
There were reportedly six separate printings of the Unlimited Edition of the Base Set. The first five print runs had a copyright line that read: © 1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999 Wizards.. These five print runs are completely identical, with no way to differentiate between them. The final print run, which was only available in the United Kingdom, can be differentiated by a change to the copyright line which reads, ©1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999-2000 Wizards. Cards from the sixth print run are much rarer due to their limited geographical distribution.
Unlimited Edition made a number of aesthetic changes to the face of the cards. The overall card appears to be a lighter and brighter printing than the previous Limited Editions. The drop shadow was added behind the art box to add some depth to the card. In addition, certain text, such as the Pokémons HP value, was set in a bold typeface.
With five to six printings, these cards are by far the most common Base Set cards in existence, and their prices reflect that. Unlimited Edition was printed to meet the insane demand of a public that became obsessed with Pokémon. A Charizard from these printings could fetch about $500 in Near Mint condition from a collector.
Don’t Miss: Pokemon Names And Attacks With Pictures