Dark Gloom Pokemon Appraisal

Dark Gloom - Team Rocket Set 1st Edition Shadowless Pokémon Card (Potential Counterfeit/Misprint)

This item is a Trading Card Game (TCG) collectible featuring the character 'Dark Gloom' from the Pokémon franchise. Physically, the card presents the standard yellow border and 2.5 by 3.5-inch dimensions typical of early English releases. It is a Stage 1 Grass-type card (50 HP) from the Team Rocket expansion. Notable markings include the '1st Edition' stamp on the left-center, the 'R' Team Rocket logo on the right-center, and the set number 36/82. The artwork by Kagemaru Himeno depicts the character in a toxic, multi-colored environment. A critical observation regarding its authenticity: the card lacks a drop shadow behind the character art frame, a trait usually exclusive to the original Base Set 'Shadowless' print run. In the Team Rocket set, all authentic English cards were printed with a shadow. The presence of '1st Edition' text alongside a shadowless layout in a non-Base set suggests this is likely a high-quality vintage counterfeit or a significant printing error. The card is currently housed in a plastic binder sleeve, which shows some glare. The card itself appears to have moderate edge wear and light surface scratches, particularly visible on the bottom yellow border and near the top corners, indicating a circulated or 'Played' condition. The copyright date reads 1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, ©1999-2000 Wizards.