Shadowless Charizard: identify the printing first
For English Base Set Charizard, first edition has the edition stamp and no artwork drop shadow. The printing commonly called Shadowless lacks both the stamp and the shadow. The later standard Unlimited printing lacks the stamp and has the shadow. PSA explains these distinctions in its Pokemon collecting guide. These visual checks identify a printing; they do not authenticate a card.
What to verify for this topic
The three linked records below are Base Set Charizard printings. They replace unrelated modern Charizard promos from the original article. Match clear front and back photographs, language, stamp and artwork border before researching sold examples. Expensive cards may require a different grading service and additional insurance; the standardized model fee below is not a submission quote.
Dated reference examples
Captured September 5, 2026. These are database reference prices, not independently verified recent sold comparables or buy recommendations. Each linked record identifies its set and source.
Charizard [1st Edition] #4 — Pokemon Base Set
Charizard [Shadowless] #4 — Pokemon Base Set
Charizard #4 — Pokemon Base Set
| Card | Raw | PSA 10 | Gem rate | Expected net profit | PSA 10 net profit | PSA 10 ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard 1st Edition #4 | $6650.00 | $343098.00 | 2.2% | $13317.27 | $291820.26 | 4371.8% |
| Charizard Shadowless #4 | $949.83 | $30100.00 | 0.4% | $1072.62 | $25212.17 | 2586.3% |
| Charizard #4 | $438.48 | $27323.95 | 0.5% | $401.09 | $23308.36 | 5029.0% |
Read the model correctly
The comparison uses a $25 PSA Value Bulk model fee and a 13% selling fee. Verify current service eligibility, declared-value limits and possible upcharges before submitting. The table excludes shipping, tax, insurance, supplies and time costs.
Expected net profit weights resale outcomes across the recorded grade distribution, applies the selling fee, and deducts raw and grading costs once. PSA 10 net profit assumes the card receives PSA 10. PSA 10 ROI divides that conditional profit by raw plus grading cost. It is not expected ROI.
Historical population shares are assumptions for this calculation, not personal grading probabilities. Missing grade-price references may use the engine's raw-price fallback; unmodeled outcomes and sparse records can materially change the result. Inspect the current card detail and replace reference inputs with your actual costs and verified sold evidence.
Incomplete outcome pricing in this snapshot: Charizard [1st Edition] #4; Charizard [Shadowless] #4; Charizard #4. Treat their expected results as provisional.
Build a repeatable decision
Open a card record, check the exact variant and source, adjust the purchase assumptions, and save the analysis to your account. Revisit it before buying or submitting. The methodology explains the model; Pro describes the available research features. A saved analysis records a decision assumption, not a realized return.
Correction — September 5, 2026: Corrected the reversed first-edition and Unlimited identification instructions. Removed modern promos and a jumbo card from the Base Set comparison, plus unsupported rarity and price-premium claims. The URL is preserved so earlier links lead to the correction. The current table replaces the historical figures with a dated, explicitly labeled model snapshot.