First Edition Pokemon Appraisal

Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Charizard Holographic Card

This item is a highly sought-after Pokémon Trading Card Game card featuring Charizard, specifically from the Base Set, identified by the 'Stage 2' evolution marker and the artwork. The card displays a vibrant, holographic illustration of Charizard with teal wings and an open mouth, showcasing its fiery breath. The background of the illustration is a distinct 'galaxy foil' holographic pattern, which shimmers with various colors and speckles, a characteristic of early holographic Pokémon cards. The card has a yellow border, and the text 'Charizard' is prominently displayed in black, followed by '120 HP' in red. Below the illustration, details such as 'Flame Pokémon. Length: 5' 7", Weight: 200 lbs.' are printed. It features the 'Pokémon Power: Energy Burn' and the attack 'Fire Spin' with a damage output of '100'. Below the attack information, 'weakness', 'resistance' (-30), and 'retreat cost' (three color colorless energy symbols) are listed. The flavor text 'Spits fire that is hot enough to melt boulders. Known to unintentionally cause forest fires. LV. 76 #6' offers additional character lore. Crucially, the card appears to be housed within a rigid, clear plastic top-loader or card protector, indicating an effort to preserve its condition. Based on the visible characteristics, particularly the artwork and the '1st Edition' marker if present (though not clearly visible in the provided image at the very bottom left corner, this particular artwork and 'Stage 2' indicate a Base Set card), this card dates to the initial release of the Pokémon TCG in English, likely 1999. The card's corners and edges appear relatively crisp through the protector, though minor wear can be seen along the top and bottom edges visible through the protector. The holographic surface appears intact with no major scratches or creases discernable from the image, which is vital for its value.