Now look at the left side of the card, just below the artwork. Do you see a tiny, black “1st Edition” stamp? It’s a small circle with a star and the number “1” inside. If it’s missing, your card is about as special as a Pidgey at a picnic.
Beware the fakes, though. Some scammers print fake stamps that look like they were drawn by a toddler. Real stamps are crisp, centered, and embossed—you can feel the texture with your finger. If it’s shiny and flat, it’s a fraud.
Fun fact: that little stamp made the cards a nightmare for game balance. The Pokémon Company printed them first to test demand, then panicked and made more without the stamp. Your card is literally a relic of their marketing chaos.
