Hey guys!
I really appreciate this forum, and as a new (pack fresh?) member it is now time to create my first thread! I hope your collective wisdom can help.
So I have some questions:
Do anyone know to which countries the UK print of Base set was distributed?
More precisely, was this print sold in Sweden?
The reason I’m asking is because I have some duplicates of certain cards and want to decide which one is the original I bought myself some 20 years ago. Sadly I mixed my own original cards with some other cards I bought in 2009.
So for Gyarados, Hitmonchan and Machamp I have both a regular Unlimited ed. and a UK print version. I know the UK print is supposed to be rare and mostly sold in UK, so is it safe to assume my original cards are the Unlimited eds?
All my original cards were bought in Sweden, so my theory is the UK print cards comes from the cards I acquired in 2009. However, I got them from a Swedish guy so they were likely bought in Sweden as well, but maybe he had some cards picked up in UK.
But if the UK print was in fact sold in Sweden I might have bought the cards myself and then I can’t exclude either version, hence the questions about the distribution of the UK print.
This became longer than I planned and somewhat confusing, but I hope you understand anyway.
The Holo cards you mentioned all came in theme decks. It is likely that you had 4th print theme decks for sale in Sweden since I have found several EU and non EU countries with those (Greece, Cyprus, Netherlands…)
These were printed in UK and then distributed throughout Europe.
Around two thirds of my original base set cards are from the 4th print run. These were all bought in Denmark back in the day, so it is very likely that they also were distributed in Sweden. In my original pre-ebay collection, I also have 4th print run version of all the theme deck holos (and none of the other holos), but also common/uncommon/rare cards that were not included in theme decks. So I’m pretty sure both theme decks and booster packs of the UK print were available in Scandinavia back then.
I am sure my parents bought me the 2 player starter set on a ferry between Sweden and Denmark(!)). I think these were my first cards, so there is a good chance this was before the 4th print run. Also, my sister got the same deck and I later got her cards, so I should have two Machamps from the same print run. I have three Machamps (not 2, wrong by me), 2 with 1999 and 1 with 1999-2000 printed. So the two Unlimited editions should be mine and my sister’s right?
For the other Base Set theme decks I’ve been thinking:
Overgrowth - Almost 100% sure 7 y.o. me would want this one, and now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure I got my Gyarados from this theme deck. Furthermore, the Gyarados I have placed first in my binder also happens to be the 4th print run Gyarados (best condition) and since I was always very proud of the condition of my Gyarados I find it unlikely that I would favor another card over my own.
And because I now know it’s quite plausible that a theme deck would be from the 4th print run I think it’s safe to assume this is my card.
Blackout - My Hitmonchan may very well come from this one but I have trouble remembering. However, I think my Hitmonchan was one of my earlier cards and might predate the 4th print run.
I feel quite confident about my Gyarados and Machamp(s). Will have to think more about Hitmonchan. Thanks for your help @styluspt, @smpratte, @scarecrowman88!
Feel free to write anything if you have more information about the topic. Anything may help!
Most certain these packs were available in Finland as well. Last night I took a look at my first Pokemon binder and there were some common 1999-2000 Base cards.