1999 1st Edition Holo Charizard PSA 9 sells for $68K

1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Holo Charizard PSA 9 Sells for $68,327 at Goldin

On January 26, 2026, a key hobby icon changed hands again: a 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Holo Charizard #4, graded PSA MINT 9, sold for $68,327 at Goldin.

For many collectors, this is the Charizard. It’s the first edition, holographic version from the original English Base Set – effectively the flagship chase card of the Pokémon TCG’s early era.

In this breakdown, we’ll look at what exactly this card is, how this price fits into recent sales, and why a PSA 9 copy continues to matter so much to collectors in 2026.

The Card: 1999 Base Set 1st Edition Holo Charizard #4 (PSA 9)

Key details:

Character: Charizard
Game/Brand: Pokémon Trading Card Game
Year: 1999
Set: English Pokémon Base Set (1st Edition)
Card number: #4/102
Version: 1st Edition, Holographic
Status: Non-rookie in sports terms, but broadly viewed as Charizard’s flagship, key issue
Grading company: PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
Grade: PSA 9 (MINT)
Attributes: Classic holo foil, no autograph, no serial numbering, no patch – value is driven by set, stamp, and condition

This Charizard sits in the “vintage” to “early WotC era” category for Pokémon – printed by Wizards of the Coast and released at the very start of the English Pokémon TCG boom.

Within that ecosystem, Base Set 1st Edition Charizard is often treated as the hobby’s blue-chip Charizard: it’s the best-known early version, from the first English set, with the 1st Edition stamp and holographic treatment.

Why PSA 9 Matters

PSA uses a 1–10 scale, with 10 as GEM MINT. A PSA 9 MINT Charizard usually allows for very minor print or edge imperfections but must still present strongly overall.

A few factors make PSA 9 a sweet spot for many collectors:

Condition vs. price: PSA 10s command a large premium, but supply is lower and prices can be volatile. PSA 9s typically offer a visually strong copy at a smaller multiple.
Population: PSA’s “pop report” (population report) shows how many copies have achieved each grade. For this card, the PSA 9 population is significantly larger than PSA 10, but still constrained when measured against long-term global demand.
Display appeal: For many collectors, a 9 looks nearly as good as a 10 on display, especially for 1990s holo foils that commonly have print lines, edge chipping, or centering issues.

The Goldin Sale: $68,327 on January 26, 2026

Auction house: Goldin
Sale date (UTC): January 26, 2026
Final price: $68,327 (USD)
Card: 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Holo Charizard #4, PSA MINT 9

This result provides another data point for one of the hobby’s most tracked cards.

How This Price Fits Recent Market Context

Public sales data over the last few years show that:

PSA 9 1st Edition Base Charizard has traded in a wide band, reflecting broader Pokémon and macro-collectibles cycles.
Prices surged aggressively during the 2020–2021 boom, then retraced as the market cooled and volumes normalized.
More recently, PSA 9 copies have tended to settle into a tighter range relative to those peaks, with individual results moving based on eye appeal, auction platform, and timing.

Against that backdrop, a $68,327 sale in early 2026:

Sits in line with the idea that the card retains a premium position but is no longer in the extreme spike territory seen at the height of the pandemic-era run-up.
Reflects the ongoing willingness of collectors to pay a substantial amount for a strong PSA 9 example through a major auction house.

Because individual copies can vary (centering, holo surface, print quality), and because fee structures and bidder pools differ by platform, direct one-to-one comparison across all recent comps should be done carefully. Still, this Goldin result is a useful anchoring point for current PSA 9 expectations.

Historical Significance for Collectors

Several factors keep this Charizard at the center of the Pokémon conversation:

1. The Face of English Pokémon TCG

Base Set is the first widely distributed English Pokémon set. Charizard, as the headliner fire-type evolution of Charmander, quickly became the poster character for the game.

The 1st Edition holo version:

Has the iconic Ken Sugimori artwork that many players and kids remember from the late 1990s.
Was a chase card from day one – not an obscure parallel, but the visible star of booster pack dreams.

2. Key WotC-Era Anchor

The card belongs to the Wizards of the Coast era, which many collectors view as the foundational period for the English TCG.

Within that era, 1st Edition Base Set is:

Among the most historically important releases.
Limited by its original print run compared to later reprints (Unlimited Base, Shadowless, etc.).

That helps explain why this version’s long-term demand has outpaced many other Charizard printings.

3. Symbol of Pokémon’s Cross-Generational Appeal

Pokémon has continued to grow, not fade, since 1999 – with modern sets, video games, mobile titles, and ongoing media. That creates:

A steady stream of new collectors discovering or rediscovering the TCG.
A base of returning collectors who specifically hunt the card they never pulled as kids.

For many, this exact Charizard in a graded slab is the physical representation of that nostalgia.

Comparing to Other Grades and Versions

Looking beyond this specific PSA 9, collectors often consider:

PSA 10 1st Edition Holo Charizard

Typically commands a large multiple of PSA 9 pricing.
Populationally scarcer, with stricter requirements around centering and surface.
Has recorded some of the highest Pokémon card sales historically, especially during prior market peaks.

Lower Grades (PSA 8 and Below)

Offer lower entry points.
Have broader supply as more well-loved childhood copies get graded.
Can see more percentage movement with changing demand, as casual and nostalgia-driven buyers enter or exit the market.

Other Charizard Variants

Collectors also track:

Shadowless and Unlimited Base Set Charizards.
Later-era Charizards (e.g., from Neo sets, EX era, and modern ultra rares).

These can be significant within their own lanes, but 1st Edition Base Holo remains the primary reference point when people talk about “the Charizard.”

What This Means for Collectors and Small Sellers

A few takeaways from this Goldin sale:

The flagship still has a market. Even after large swings in the broader collectibles space, a high-grade 1st Edition Base Charizard continues to bring a five-figure result through a major house.
Grade and presentation matter. Within the same numeric grade, centering, holo cleanliness, and overall eye appeal can influence bidding. Professional photos and clear scans are important if you’re selling.
Use price context, not single comps, for decisions. A “comp” is a comparable sale – another recent transaction for the same or a closely similar card. This $68,327 result should be viewed alongside other recent sales across different platforms to understand a range, not as a guarantee.
Nostalgia plus history is still powerful. This card’s demand is not driven by current competitive play, but by its role as a cultural and hobby touchstone. That profile tends to attract both longtime collectors and returning fans.

Final Thoughts

The January 26, 2026 Goldin sale of a 1999 Pokémon Base Set 1st Edition Holo Charizard #4 in PSA MINT 9 for $68,327 reinforces the card’s position as a central piece of the Pokémon market.

For newer collectors, it’s a reminder of why this specific Charizard is talked about so often. For experienced hobbyists, it’s another data point to fold into ongoing tracking of one of the most studied trading cards in the world.

As always, it’s wise to treat individual results as information, not instruction: watch trends, compare multiple sales, and focus on the copies and versions that match your own collecting goals.

figoca will continue to follow key Charizard and other cornerstone Pokémon sales to help collectors understand how the market for these iconic cards evolves over time.