Japan — 1996 Pokémon Basic Set Charizard Holo, No Rarity Symbol Charizard #006 | Original Japanese Printing | October 20, 1996 | PSA Mint 9

Released in Japan on October 20, 1996, the original Pokémon Basic Set marked the beginning of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Among its most recognizable cards was the holographic Charizard, featuring artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita that would become one of the defining images in trading-card history. This example represents the particularly desirable No Rarity Symbol variety, associated with the earliest printing of the Japanese set.

The defining feature is the absence of the small rarity symbol normally found in the lower-right corner of the card. The earliest Japanese cards were released without these symbols before subsequent printings introduced them. Unlike the familiar English first-edition cards, which use a dedicated first-edition stamp, this Japanese variety is identified by what is missing. The exact production quantity remains unknown, but the No Rarity printing is substantially scarcer than the later Japanese version bearing a rarity symbol.

The card's artwork depicts Charizard unleashing a stream of fire against a radiant holographic background. Illustrated by Mitsuhiro Arita, the image captures the aggressive pose and dramatic presentation that helped establish Charizard as one of Pokémon's most enduring characters. The Japanese card also preserves the original name, Lizardon, and early game mechanics, including the distinctive Energy Burn Pokémon Power and the Fire Spin attack. Its printed measurements and statistics reflect the game's early design, making it a snapshot of Pokémon before the franchise reached its worldwide peak.

Historically, this card predates the English Base Set released in 1999 by more than two years. It belongs to the formative period when Pokémon was first transitioning from a Japanese game and entertainment phenomenon into an international collecting sensation. For collectors, the significance extends beyond the popularity of Charizard itself: this is an early example of the original Japanese trading-card release, from the first generation of cards that established the visual language and collecting culture of the Pokémon TCG.

Graded PSA Mint 9, this example combines the historical importance of the 1996 release with the scarcity of the No Rarity Symbol variety and the enduring appeal of Arita's original Charizard artwork. Nearly three decades after its release, it remains a landmark piece from the beginning of Pokémon card collecting.