Pokemon Cards: The Difference Between Base 1 and Base 2

A Guide Brought to You by Vilebaseball

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PLEASE TAKE NOTE: Many of the images in this guide were obtained myself or through special permission from a Pokemon fan website. Those images that I received special permission to use are copyrighted. The text inside and any images I produced are intellectual property. Using part/all of this article could violate copyright laws.

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The Basics:

• What do the terms "Base" and "Base 2" refer to?

In terms of Pokemon cards, the term "Base" and "Base 2" refer to Pokemon card series. Every Pokemon card is in series. Other than Base and Base 2, some examples of Pokemon card series are: Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, Neo Discovery, Diamond & Pearl, etc.

• What is a "Base 1" card?

Base 1 is a term that refers to Base cards. Most likely so people didn't ask if their card was Base 2, Base 1 is the same thing as the plain old Base series. I cannot stress this enough, I see this all the time: BASE 1 IS **NOT** a first edition Base card. Again, BASE 1 IS **NOT** a first edition Base card. I see this error so many times made by both sellers and buyers alike. For the remainder of the guide, for the purpose of simplicity, all Base / Base Set 1 cards will be reffered to as Base 1. Please remember, they are the SAME THING.

• Then what is a First Edition Base set and Base set 2 card called?

A First Edition Base set card is called a First Edition Base set card. A First Edition Base set card is NOT Base 1. First Edition Base set 2 cards do not exist.

• What is the difference between Base set 1 and Base set 2? Is Base Set 2 a re-print of Base set 1?

For a side-by-side comparison, please see my "Side by Side" comparison section below. However, the main difference between the sets is the number of cards in each series. Base set 2 contains cards from both the original Base set 1, as well as the Jungle series. Teachnically, Base set 2 contains replicas of the cards from Base set 1. However, many changes were made, a new series symbol was added to them, and a pack was created, so I do not consider them re-prints.

• Are the complete Base set 1 and Jungle series included in the Base 2 set of cards?

No. As I mention in my side by side comparison below, Base set 1 contains 102 cards and Base set 2 contains 130 cards. With the Jungle series containing 64 cards, that means 36 cards were not included. Please keep in mind that in the Jungle series, some cards were printed in both Holo and Non Holo... so if you see a card twice, it's not a mistake! I have listed whether or not the card is holographic and what series it originated from.

The cards that were not put in the Base 2 set are:

• Machamp (Holo - Base set 1)
• Electrode (Holo - Jungle)
• Electrode (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Porygon (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Flareon (Holo - Jungle)
• Flareon (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Koffing (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Jolteon (Holo - Jungle)
• Jolteon (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Ponyta (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Vaporeon (Holo - Jungle) 
• Vaporeon (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Clefairy Doll (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Vileplume (Holo - Jungle)
• Vileplume (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Devolution Spray (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Gloom (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Pokemon Flute (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Primeape (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Revive  (Non Holo - Base set 1)
• Rapidash  (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Eevee  (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Mankey  (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Oddish  (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Pikachu  (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Kangaskhan (Holo - Jungle)
• Mr. Mime (Holo - Jungle)
• Pinsir (Holo - Jungle)
• Snorlax (Holo - Jungle)
• Venomoth (Holo - Jungle)
• Victreebel (Holo - Jungle)
• Clefable (Holo - Jungle)
• Nidoqueen (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Pidgeot (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Scyther (Non Holo - Jungle)
• Wigglytuff (Non Holo - Jungle)

• Which series cards have more value?

In general, it seems cards from Base set 1 have more value simply because they are older and were the first ever series of Pokemon Cards in the US.

• Why was Base set 2 made?

My understanding is that the cards were made mostly for the purposes of tournament play. Tournaments do not allow the use of older cards, and because of that, Wizards of the Coast updated the ones they wished to continue to allow the use of.

A Side by Side Comparison:

• Number of Cards in the Series

Base 1: 102

Base 2: 130

• USA Release

Base 1: January 1999

Base 2: Febuary 2000

• 1st Edition Cards

Base 1: Yes

Base 2: No

• Symbol (Explained in "Identifiying" section below) 

Base 1: None

Base 2: A number "2" with a Pokeball in the middle

Identifying Base set 1 and Base set 2 cards:

• What are ways to identify if my card is from Base set 1 or Base set 2?

Please look at the images shown below. They were much larger and easier to see when I made them, but unfortunatly eBay limits me on the size of images I can post. Because of that, I have done my best, but if you are still having issues I have also listed the differences below.

• Base set 2 cards have a Base set 2 symbol (A number 2 with a pokeball in the middle of it just to the right of the Pokemon info) Shown as Navy Blue in the images.
• Base set 2 cards have much more "spunk" in the holofoil. Shown as Grey in the images.
• Base set 2 cards have the copyright on the bottom of the card from 1999-2000, while Base set 1 cards show only 1999. Shown as Olive in the images. Please Note: There were some (but not many) Base 1 cards, known as the "Last Print" that have 1999-2000 as the copyright year. While it is a factor to consider, it shouldn't be the only one.
• Base set 2 cards have 130 cards in the series, while Base set 1 only has 102. Shown as Baby Blue in the images.

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