Mareep Pokemon Trading Card (Expedition Base Set)

This item is a 2002 Pokemon Trading Card featuring the character Mareep, numbered 119/165 from the Expedition Base Set. It is a standard card made of laminated cardstock with a yellow border and distinctive 'e-Reader' dot-code strips on the left and bottom margins. The artwork by Sumiyoshi Kizuki depicts a stylized Mareep against a patterned orange and yellow background. Notable features include the 40 HP stat, Thundershock attack text, and the 'e-Reader' logo in the bottom-left corner. The condition of the card is heavily degraded; visible issues include extreme edge wear, extensive whitening on all four corners, a prominent surface scratch or crease on the right edge, and significant dirt or staining across the yellow border and text field. The card appears to have been played without protection and shows visible fiber damage from friction. It displays an ID number B-17-# below the artwork, characteristic of the early Wizards of the Coast e-Card era.

I have examined the digital representation of the 2002 Pokemon Expedition Base Set Mareep (119/165). While the card appears authentic based on the correct typography, e-Reader dot-code proportions, and characteristic Wizards of the Coast era color saturation, its physical condition is significantly compromised. My inspection reveals extreme edge wear, severe whitening, and visible surface abrasions that classify this item as 'Damaged' or 'Heavy Play' condition. In the current collectibles market, the Expedition Base Set is highly sought after by completionists, but demand is almost exclusively focused on Near Mint or high-grade specimens due to the set's availability. Common cards like Mareep typically hold a market value of $3.00-$5.00 in pristine condition; however, the extensive fiber damage and staining observed here reduce its value to a nominal amount, primarily as a placeholder or 'filler' card. One must note that image-based appraisals cannot confirm surface texture or the 'light test' for cardstock density. To fully verify authenticity and provide a final valuation, I would require an in-person physical inspection to assess the card's rigidity and surface gloss. Provenance documentation is not standard for individual common cards, but professional grading by PSA or CGC would be the only way to establish a definitive condition grade, though the cost of grading would likely exceed the card's resulting market value.