Journal
First edition, shadowless and unlimited: telling early printings apart
Early English Pokémon cards come in printings that look nearly identical. First edition cards carry a small first edition stamp, shadowless cards lack the drop shadow beside the art box, and unlimited cards have the shadow and no stamp.
Early English Pokémon cards come in printings that look nearly identical. First edition cards carry a small first edition stamp, shadowless cards lack the drop shadow beside the art box, and unlimited cards have the shadow and no stamp.
The three to know
- First edition: look for the small stamp on the left side of the card, below the artwork.
- Shadowless: no stamp, and the artwork box has no shadow on its right edge.
- Unlimited: the later, larger print run, with a visible shadow beside the art box.
Why it matters
Earlier printings were produced in smaller numbers, so the same card can be worth very different amounts depending on the printing. Always check the listing details and photos, and ask us if you are unsure.