Since debuting in Japan in 1996, Pokémon cards have become, and remained, a titan in the mainstream global collectibles market. More than 25 years since its debut, its popularity is stronger than ever. From celebs and influencers like Justin Bieber showing off their own collections of the Pocket Monsters, to both new and old fans discovering and rediscovering the Pokémon Universe in the confines of the pandemic, the cards are a lucrative centrepiece in today’s buyers and sellers. And it’s long been known that the fire-breathing, dragon-like Charizard, perhaps the most powerful Pokémon, holds the most value in each box.
Here, we break down the Most Expensive Charizard Cards Sold on StockX.
Charizard-Holo 1999 Pokémon TCG Base Set 1st Edition 4/102 PSA 9
Undoubtedly the most iconic card in the entire Pokémon Universe, the most expensive Charizard card ever sold on StockX, and arguably the most coveted Pokémon card in existence, comes from the first edition of the 1999 Pokemon TCG Base Set. Big names like Logic have made headlines for seeking out this particular card (and dropping astounding amounts of money to acquire them). Part of the reason why this card is so special is that it was part of the first print run of the English edition of the trading card game, which contributed to its explosive growth and popularity around the world. A 1st Edition stamp is also prominently displayed below the card’s artwork. In near mint condition at a 9 PSA grade, the card sold for £19,000 on StockX, making it the most expensive of its kind sold in the platform’s history.
Charizard-Holo 1999 Pokemon Base Set Shadowless 4/102 PSA 9
Next on the list is the 1999 Base Set Shadowless Charizard card, which sold for £6,000 on the site. With the exception of the 1st edition stamp, this Charizard card is identical to its 1st Edition counterpart since the Shadowless set is just part of the second printing of the Base Set. The right-hand side of the art panel also appears flat with no drop shadow, lending to its name. After a 1st Edition, the Shadowless Charizard is the most sought out card, due to the fact that the Shadowless Pokémon was just one specific set in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Charizard-Holo 2003 Pokemon Skyridge Crystal Type 146/144 PSA 9
After the two Base Set Charizard cards, another one of the most expensive Charizard cards ever sold on StockX is from the 2003 Pokemon Skyridge Crystal Type set. Skyridge was the final expansion of the Pokémon TCG’s e-Card series, made up of 150 cards from two Japanese expansion sets, and is one of the scarcest sets out there. Featuring a bright holographic foil, this version of Charizard is much more cartoonish than the previous base sets and is considered by many fans to be the strongest artwork in the entire trading game series. Nearly 20 years later, these Crystal Pokémon are considered very hard to find, which may explain why the Charizard card sold on StockX for £4,750.
Charizard-Reverse Foil 2002 Pokemon Legendary Collection 3/110 PSA 8
The Reverse Foil 2002 Legendary Collection Charizard card sold for just under £4,500 on StockX at a PSA grade of 9. Part of the Legendary Collection, this was the first Pokémon series to feature reverse foil cards, giving the art panel a matte finish not seen on many other cards and the area around it a hologram. The Reverse Holofoil also donned a unique fireworks-like pattern. Like any Charizard card overall, Reverse Foil cards are extremely hard to find in Legendary Collection booster packs. Released in May 2002, it includes Pokémon characters from the Red and Blue Game Boy games, as well as reprints of the Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, and Team Rocket expansions.
Dark Charizard-Holo 2000 Pokemon Team Rocket 1st Edition 4/82 PSA 10
One of the notable Charizard cards on StockX with a perfect 10 PSA grade, a 1st edition Dark Charizard Team Rocket card sold for £3,600. Introduced in 2000, the series consisted of “Dark” versions of the Pocket Monsters that had been raised by the villainous Team Rocket, trainers without care and love. As a result, these particular Pokémon were capable of higher attack damage, though they are particularly weak to their “Fairy” counterparts. The pictured Charizard is visibly angry, juxtaposed over a fiery orange border with a deep space blue background.
Charizard-Holo 2016 Pokemon TCG XY Evolutions 11/108 PSA 10
This Charizard card held another perfect PSA grade of 10, selling for £1,600. The 2016 TCG XY Evolutions Set contained cards that were near replicas of the original 1999 English TCG Base Set. This series proved to be a fan favourite, since it offered fans a more affordable chance to own the coveted 1999 TCG Charizard and it was released in 2016, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Pokémon.
Shining Charizard 2002 Pokemon TCG Neo Destiny 1st Edition 107/105 PSA 9
Neo Destiny was the 11th expansion of the Pokémon TCG, released in February 2002. Perhaps the rarest, and most desirable, card in the bunch was the Shining Charizard, once sold on StockX for £2,800. As opposed to previous sets which featured a holographic background, these Pokémon themselves were holographic, hence the “Shining” trait of this particular Charizard. Shining Charizard also was one of the first few Pokémon to have dual-type energy costs in its attacks, adding to the card’s rareness.
