First Edition (1st Edition)

First Edition, printed as 1st Edition, is a small stamp found on cards from the first English print run of certain sets. It is a black circle containing the number 1 and the word "Edition", placed at the lower left, directly below the artwork. Cards without the stamp belong to later printings of the same set, mainly Unlimited.

Where the stamp appears

The 1st Edition stamp was used in several sets of the Wizards of the Coast era, including English Base Set from 1999, Jungle, Fossil and Team Rocket, and later the Neo series. Not every set from the period received it: Base Set 2, for example, was released without a first edition. Always check a card against a known set list before assuming it is a first edition.

The relationship to Shadowless

The term is often confused with Shadowless. Shadowless describes a printing in which the artwork frame lacks the drop shadow along its right side. All first editions of Base Set are shadowless, but shadowless cards without the stamp also exist. A card can therefore be shadowless without being a first edition, while a Base Set first edition is always shadowless.

Why collectors separate them

First editions were printed in an initial, time-limited run before production moved on to the regular printings. The publishers have not released print-run figures, so the number of cards in existence cannot be stated with certainty (see print runs). What collectors do know is that the stamp gives a card a distinct place in the market, and that the price gap between a first edition and the same card without the stamp can be large. Actual amounts belong under market price, not here.

How to check a card

• Look for the stamp at the lower left, directly below the artwork frame and compare it with reference images of the same set.
• Check the language, set symbol and card number. The stamp has a known appearance for each set, and deviations should be checked against documented variants (for example thin and thick stamps) before drawing conclusions.
• Inspect edges, print sharpness and colors; see counterfeit cards for common signs.
• On a card in a grading slab the stamp is noted on the label, and the number of graded copies can be looked up in the population report.

Caveats

The stamp says nothing about condition. Centering, edge wear and surface decide the grade, and price often follows the grade closely. First editions are also among the most counterfeited cards, because the stamp is easy to imitate. Always consider where a card came from, and compare it with entries in the card catalog.

In summary

A 1st Edition stamp tells you which printing a card comes from, not how well it has been preserved. The value collectors attach to the stamp rests on the first run being time-limited and on many of the cards having been played with and worn. Because the stamp is easy to imitate, documentation, the seller and any grading are important. Always compare with several reliable references, and remember that a card without the stamp can still be a well-preserved and interesting card from the same set.