Misprints and error cards

A misprint, or error card, is a Pokémon card where something went wrong in production. It can involve colors, text, foil, cutting or the card's construction. Some faults are caught and corrected within the same production run, while others remain and form a collector category of their own. There are few official sources on which errors were printed and in what quantity.

Common types

• Print errors: missing or shifted color, blurred printing, ink spots or mistakes in the card text.
• Cutting errors: the card is cut so crookedly that part of the next card or an edge is visible.
• Foil errors: the holo pattern is missing, misplaced or covers areas it should not.
• Missing elements, for example a symbol, stamp or line of text that was left out.
• Production faults in the card itself, such as partly stuck-together cards or creases from the factory.

What is not the same

Poor centering is not normally counted as a misprint, even if the card looks crooked. Centering is an ordinary variation from production and affects the grade rather than forming a separate category. The same goes for wear and damage that happened after the card left the factory. Errors later corrected by the publisher, such as a text change in a new printing, belong more under reprints and printing variants.

Why some collectors seek them

Some collectors care about error cards because they are unusual and unplanned. Interest still varies greatly, and the price depends on which error it is, how well it is documented and which Pokémon or set is involved. There is also a risk that cards have been altered after production to look like misprints. Neither the scale nor the value can be stated in general terms.

How to assess a card

Compare with several copies of the same card, preferably from a known source, before assuming something is a production error. Many error cards are recorded in grading companies' registries with separate notes. Also check that the card is not a counterfeit, since the poor quality of fakes often resembles printing errors. Look at the card's condition, and use the card catalog as a reference for the correct appearance. Older cards, such as first editions, are easier to compare because plenty of documentation exists.

In summary

Misprints are production faults, and they must be separated from wear, poor centering and deliberate alterations. Interest is greatest when the error is clear, documented and tied to a well-known card. Since such cards are easy to imitate, the source of the card matters. There is no official overview of which errors exist, so collectors rely on one another's findings and on grading companies' registries.