Pokémon TCG Base Set 2 Vileplume (31/64) Trading Card

This item is a vintage Pokémon trading card featuring the character 'Vileplume'. It is a standard-sized collectible card, rectangular in shape with rounded corners, made from laminated cardstock. The card's primary colors are yellow for the border, a vibrant lime green for the background behind the Pokémon illustration, and various colors for the text and character art. The Vileplume illustration depicts a mushroom-like creature with a large, multiple-petaled red cap and a light grey, stubby body with small limbs. The card displays '80 HP' indicating its health points and 'STAGE 2' in the top left, signifying its evolutionary stage. Below the illustration, there are details about the Pokémon including 'Flower Pokémon. Length 3' 11", Weight: 41 lbs.' Additionally, it lists a 'Pokémon Power: Heal' and an attack 'Petal Dance' with a damage output of '40x'. Weakness, Resistance, and Retreat Cost are also indicated by symbols. The bottom border contains flavor text about Vileplume and copyright information: '©1995, 96, 98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. ©1999 Wizards.' and the card number '31/64' in the bottom right corner, suggesting it belongs to the Jungle expansion set. The card appears to be in moderately good condition, showing some slight wear around the edges and corners, consistent with a vintage collectible that has been handled. There are no major creases, tears, or significant disfigurement visible. The overall craftsmanship is typical of early Pokémon cards, featuring clear printing and vibrant colors, indicating a standard production quality for its era.

I have examined the provided image and description of this Pokémon TCG Base Set 2 Vileplume (31/64) card. Based on the visual information, the card appears to be authentic; the layout, fonts, and art style are consistent with genuine Base Set 2 cards from the given copyright years. The '31/64' card number is indeed from Base Set 2, not Jungle, correcting the owner's description. Its condition is moderately good, showing typical edge and corner wear for a vintage card that has been handled but without major damage like creasing or tears. This places it likely in the 'Excellent' to 'Near Mint' range. Market conditions for Base Set 2 cards, while popular, are not as robust as their 1st Edition or Shadowless Base Set counterparts. Vileplume is not a highly sought-after or rare 'Chase' card in this set, which impacts its demand. Comparable sales for Vileplume 31/64 in similar condition typically range from $15 to $30. Higher grades (PSA 9 or 10) can command more, but this card's observed wear indicates it wouldn't achieve those grades. Factors significantly impacting value here are the card’s commonality within the set and the slight but visible wear. For full authentication, an in-person examination is crucial to verify card stock, print quality under magnification, and detect any potential alterations or counterfeiting with absolute certainty. Without physical inspection, I cannot definitively rule out highly sophisticated fakes, though nothing in the provided image suggests it.