Japanese set cards had 1st edition and unlimited print runs for most sets from e-series through XY. Some sets are really difficult to find in unlimited, some sets are closer to a 50/50 split between 1st edition and unlimited. Here are some tips to finding the unlimited cards. Will use Leafeon XY3 007/096 as an example.
I have had the best luck finding unlimited cards in a bulk lot listing. The search term needs to be generic as possible to allow those lot listings to populate.
eBay:
Create a saved search for “Leafeon” in the Collectible Card Games category, not just CCG Individual Cards. Also set one up for “XY3” in the same category. You will need to check these saved searches daily. You can also set up additional saved searches for “Leafeon 007” and “Leafeon XY3” that you check a few times a day"
Mercari Japan
Check listings daily for “Leafeon” (translated in Japanese) and also “XY3” in the trading cards - Pokemon Card Game category.
After checking several days in a row, you start to realize how many new pages you need to go through before hitting listings you already saw the previous day. You might get lucky finding the card as an individual listing, but it’s more likely to be found in something like this, where 007 is not mentioned anywhere. Bringing home my point that defining the search too much will kill your chances.
The beauty of the listing examples above is you might find the card you are looking for plus other freebies for just a few dollars. The unlimited card by itself in this case is probably worth $40 on it’s own.
For the sets that are 50/50 or even 75/25, the rarity of unlimited doesn’t seem to come into play. For e series its probably closer to the 75/25 split. Since rarity doesn’t factor in, preference takes over. Maybe for Crystal Lugia people prefer 1st edition since it’s close to the WOTC 1st edition era.
Sets that are 85/15 - 95/5 (XY era) or dare I say 95/5 - 98/2 (Legend era), unlimited is always more valuable because of the rarity.
Good point on the Lugia, people think “me think 1st edition is cooler”
Once you get desperate enough (after searching for 1+ year), you can try these 2 things:
Find a seller from Japan on eBay who has high quantity of the card you want, but 1st edition is shown in the stock image. Ask them if they have any that are unlimited. I am pretty sure @chefonaquest was successful at this
In my example, Leafeon XY3 is used. Finding a bulk listing of 1000+ Eeveelution cards for cheap, buy it, and hope it’s in there. Only buy it if you think putting in the work to sell cards on their own or in small lots will make you money in the long run.
Very true, sooner or later you’ll have a phase where you start to gaslight yourself into “well, the store states they don’t differentiate between first edition and unlimited, so you might find an unlimited card if you only buy enough copies” and then end up like that
Just goes to show that “Older Minter Rarer Better” doesnt really apply all the time and is subject to nuance.
I think one of the only cases where a Japanese Unlim Crystal sold for more than 1st ed was the Charizard. The Unlim Lugia is only starting to catch up (but even then, 1 sale) - and now those who own it are saying the “Unlimited = rarer, so more money please” but this was never the case before.
It very well could be sorted already by the store/website. Also possible the 400 cards they bought from collections or trade ins didn’t have unlimited due to scarcity and original owners keeping them for themselves
