I need some help and Reddit sent me over here. I have a Blastoise booster pack with a 1st edition stamp that weighs 21 grams. However, it looks like it’s an unlimited with a misprint without the black triangle - also possible it’s a 1st edition with a huge misprint but that feels incredibly unlikely and 1 in a million type scenario (that’s what my dad told me it was though).
It’s been sealed in a ziplock bag in a protective case for at least 15 years - only took out today to weigh it. Due to the weight and the rareness I really don’t want to send it away and was told raw might be better. However, because of the misprinted nature it might need to be certified.
Can you all help me on what I should do next steps and what I’m looking at for value?
That scale is not precise enough to determine if the pack is heavy or not.
This is just an unlimited pack. This was from the print run that eventually turned into the black triangle error packs, where a first edition stamp was accidently printed on the packs. I’ve seen a few examples over the years of the packs without the black triangle that must have been packed up before the error was caught.
Cool item! But unfortunately I’m not sure of value.
The kitchen scale in grams isn’t accurate enough? I think I am going to get a video weighing it, send it to PSA for grading (or go to Jersey in person), then send to an auction house. I think that’s my best option at this point
These are known as the no black triangle error 1st edition error packs. Supposedly the factory had an accident where they printed 1st edition stamps on unlimited packs. They decided a second stamp would resolve the issue and made the black triangle overlay stamp. Some packs escaped not getting stamped so it is a double error and considered the rarest pack you can find in Base set.
Absolutely do not rip it. PSA will grade them as a unique 1st edition error pack now. They go for $7-10k in a 7 or above. The population in my best guess is maybe only 36.
An 8 sold for $10k recently. A full art set is up for $40,000. Your pack has a tear in the top crimp, and bottom left has some defect, I would guess yours would grade a 7 or 8.
If your dad is still around, I would be real interested in asking where they acquired it from. It is a very rare pack.
i actually don’t think it’s tears - it’s in a plastic ziploc bag that caused some weird reflections but I’m going to get it graded, after a video weighing it with a better scale with 2 decimals for grams, and then probably take it to an auction house. Dads around his is graded a 10, and he got it from eBay a long time ago - he’s always had a decent eye for what will be a collectible. I can ask him for more details - he’s selling his charizard now but didn’t weigh it. After researching and copilot, I actually think we should put it up through an auction house
They will contain unlimited cards like black triangle. There is no reason to open them, since you will probably lose 95% of the value.
The dozen or so error packs I have seen all have defects. It’s usually the corners are messed up. This looks like a small normal tear they will sometimes downgrade you for.
Hi All! I just wanted to quick say thank you so much for helping me out with this information - it really helped clear up a lot of my fuzziness.
I sent the pack to heritage, it graded a 9 with PSA and is set to go to signature auction in September. I can provide a link if anybody would like.
Thank you all again for your help!
The lovely people on Reddit helped me - I knew it was an error but I didn’t know why. You can tell because the red additional card banner is in the middle/top instead of the bottom and it says additional instead of tradable (which makes me nuts because I feeL like it’s spelled wrong but I don’t think it is).
@Fantastic-isopod-631 already answered but I can add some more references. The first thing I look for is the crimp of the packs. True 1st ed packs will have a longer crimp and they will be closer together.
