Dark Raichu Holo Appraisal

Dark Raichu 1st Edition Holo - Team Rocket Expansion (83/82)

This is a vintage Pokémon Trading Card Game card featuring 'Dark Raichu' from the Team Rocket expansion, released circa 2000. The card is highly significant as it was the first 'secret rare' card in the English TCG, denoted by the collector number 83/82 appearing in the bottom right corner. The card construction consists of layered cardstock with a holographic foil layer embedded in the art window, which features a 'cosmos' or 'starfield' pattern. The artwork, illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, shows Raichu with a darker, more aggressive aesthetic characteristic of the Rocket set. Notable markings include the '1st Edition' stamp on the left-hand side, just below the art window, and the stylized 'R' logo on the right side. The card identifies as a Stage 1 Pokémon evolving from Pikachu, with 70 HP. Regarding condition, visible whitening and edge wear are present along the yellow borders, particularly on the top and left edges. The corners show slight softening, and some surface scratches are visible on the holographic portion. Based on the 1999-2000 Wizards of the Coast copyright, this is an original printing from the early 'WotC' era of the game. Its status as a 1st edition secret rare makes it a cornerstone piece for collectors of the original Wizards of the Coast sets.