Any smaller rarity symbols on Japanese Base Set Commons?

General Question
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1

I wanted to bump this thread, but since it’s over two months old, I of course have to give the good example as a moderator and create a new thread… :stuck_out_tongue:

To give a short summary of that thread: Japanese Base Set cards have larger rarity symbols than other sets (this I did already know). What was newly discovered however, is that within the Japanese Base Set the rarity symbols can vary in size as well. From what I’ve personally seen, this primarily applies to the Holofoil Rares however, as I’ve only seen one non-holo Uncommon with this difference thus far personally, which is the Poliwhirl in the linked thread above (and no, it’s not from another Japanese original/neo era set, I’ve actually verified that just yet when it crossed my mind - see below †).

I think something similar happened with the Japanese Base Set as with the English Base Set. For the English Base Set, they started with just thick 1st edition stamps. Near the end they noticed they needed more Holofoil Rares, which got the new thin 1st edition stamps, which is also what all the other English 1st edition sets were using.
For the Japanese Base Set something similar might have happened. They started all with larger rarity symbols, and near the end they noticed they needed more Holofoil Rares (and Uncommons?), which got the new smaller rarity symbols, which is also what all the other Japanese original and neo era sets were using.

As for some pictures to make it a bit more visual. Here a Japanese Base Set booster pack that was opened yesterday, which has the smaller rarity symbol on the Holofoil Rare Charizard, but the larger rarity symbols on the non-holo Commons and Uncommons (source):

Here an IG post from @shizzlemetimbers from the day before yesterday, with Magneton in two different sizes (on the third tab):


Here a picture from the original thread linked above, where the Japanese Base Set rarity symbol sizes are compared to some of the other Japanese sets which have smaller rarity symbols (Commons: Jungle vs Base Set; Uncommons: Vending Series vs Base Set; Rares: Team Rocket vs small Base Set vs larger Base Set):

As for the purpose of this thread: primarily a bump to give it attention, with the question if anyone has seen ANY Japanese Base Set non-holo Commons with the smaller rarity symbols (bonus points if it’s the Pikachu)?

† When I saw the first picture of the non-holo Uncommon in the linked thread, I thought it might have been a comparison to another set like the picture below it. But the top card with the smaller rarity symbol is in fact a Japanese Base Set Poliwhirl, based on the flavor text:

If anyone has seen a Japanese Base Set Common with smaller set symbol, or better yet: owns a Pikachu with smaller set symbol, lmk.

Greetz,
Quuador

2

Super cool spot. Small vs big another variant for collectors lol.

3

Bump. Since it’s been unanswered for 2 years, I figured I’d bump it in case some of the newer member have a clue, or perhaps someone who hadn’t read it two years ago.

Although I guess the lack of comments is an answer on its own tbh.

Greetz,
Quuador

4

I had multiple folks look over their stuff when this got brought up. Even folks who thought maybe the difference came from starter decks. Some folks said they have more Big Rarities than Smaller. Some said the total opposite. Starter decks seem inconclusive as well.

The best guess anyone has come up with is that they are different printing periods where one transitioned to the others. Some have theorized the bigger rarities are the last printing as they are almost identical to English symbols. But there’s little evidence outside of assumption.

That is all to say, I still have no clue.

5

I would assume the opposite. If the size of the symbols decreased for future sets (e.g., Vending, Gym, Neo), then it may be that the larger symbols were first printed and the smaller symbols were printed later to align with future iterations of the card designs. But it’s all speculation.

It’s also possible that differences could be attributed to printers/locations rather than timelines.

6

Maybe no rarity cards were just microscopic rarity after all!

7

I had a similar thought with different locations but wouldn’t they all have access to the same scans?

You bring up a good counterpoint with the later sets though. Never considered that.

8

I would think so. And I would assume that most changes were by choice in Japan vs. by accident in the U.S. (e.g., numerous WoTC printing and typesetting errors).

9

Will keep an eye out over here. Feel as if I’ve seen the smaller symbol a few times but as I wasn’t trying to find it can’t say if I 100% did see some or whether they were common cards.

It’s difficult to search through common listings as the vast majority (80%+) of sellers use stock images and get fairly annoyed if you ask for a picture and don’t follow through by buying. As most commons are sub $1 there’s an even higher percentage of stock images used.