Uncut Sheets
(Last Update: 23rd July 2023)
English and International:
Trading cards are not printed individually, but on large Uncut Sheets. Those are then cut into individual cards and go through a corner rounding station where they receive the typical rounded corners you know from Pokemon cards.
There's vast differences in the look and layout of the Uncut Sheets, depending on where they are printed. Wizards of the Coast used printers in a variety of countries to keep up with the tremendous demand during the Pokemon boom. They used printing facilities in the USA, Belgium, UK and Australia.
Here's an (incomplete) list of the printers WOTC used:
USA: Cartamundi, The United States Playing Card Company, PBM Graphics, UV Color, Rainier Color, Yaquinto Printing
Belgium: Cartamundi
UK: GPS Colour Graphics
Australia: Hannapak (Subcontractor: IMS)
When TPCI took over the printing from WOTC, they continued to use the same printers. Starting with the Diamond & Pearl block, production of all international cards for the market outside of Asia was moved to the US. Nowadays most cards come from PBM, which has since been acquired by Consolidated Graphics.
Later TPCI started print Korean cards again, which were first produced in the US for the market in South Korea. After the first 10 sets they started using a printer in South Korea, which saved them lots of money in shipping and production, but meant a huge drop in quality.
Because of TPCI's much stricter policies and general disinterest in the product from employees, not many modern sheets have ever surfaced.
Contrary to that, there's a lot of different WOTC era sheets out there to collect, including test prints and misprints.
Trading cards are not printed individually, but on large Uncut Sheets. Those are then cut into individual cards and go through a corner rounding station where they receive the typical rounded corners you know from Pokemon cards.
There's vast differences in the look and layout of the Uncut Sheets, depending on where they are printed. Wizards of the Coast used printers in a variety of countries to keep up with the tremendous demand during the Pokemon boom. They used printing facilities in the USA, Belgium, UK and Australia.
Here's an (incomplete) list of the printers WOTC used:
USA: Cartamundi, The United States Playing Card Company, PBM Graphics, UV Color, Rainier Color, Yaquinto Printing
Belgium: Cartamundi
UK: GPS Colour Graphics
Australia: Hannapak (Subcontractor: IMS)
When TPCI took over the printing from WOTC, they continued to use the same printers. Starting with the Diamond & Pearl block, production of all international cards for the market outside of Asia was moved to the US. Nowadays most cards come from PBM, which has since been acquired by Consolidated Graphics.
Later TPCI started print Korean cards again, which were first produced in the US for the market in South Korea. After the first 10 sets they started using a printer in South Korea, which saved them lots of money in shipping and production, but meant a huge drop in quality.
Because of TPCI's much stricter policies and general disinterest in the product from employees, not many modern sheets have ever surfaced.
Contrary to that, there's a lot of different WOTC era sheets out there to collect, including test prints and misprints.
Wizards of the Coast:
Print Run Information:
I also recently tried to compile a list of print run dates for all WOTC sets, including additional information listed on the sheet.
Here is what I have so far:
Base Set
1st Edition Holo - 1st run (Thick Stamps): Company ?, Date: 11/98, Form 7, Sign-Off: 11-30-98 7:25AM
1st Edition Holo - 2nd run (Thin Stamps): Company ?, Date: 01/99, Form 7, Version 2, Job #P06057270 00 0140, Sign-Off: 1-3-99 2:45PM,
TP (Time for Print): 12/10/98 D.Davis
1st Edition Holo - 3nd run (Shadowless) : Company ?, Date: 01/99, Form 7, Version 3, Job #P06057270 00 0140,
TP (Time for Print): 12/10/98 D.Davis
Unlimited Holo - 1st Run (Shadowless) : Company: ?, Date: 2/99, Form 9, Job # ? , Sign-Off: 2-7-99 3:55PM
TP (Time for Print): 1-21-99 D.Davis
Layout Test Unlimited Holo (?): Company: ?, Date: ?, Form ?, Job # ?,
TP (Time for Print): 1-21-99 D. Davis
Unlimited Holo - 7th Run:
Unlimited PCD Holo - 7th Run: Company ?, Date: 07/99, Form 8, Job #P6057270 05140
Unlimited Starter Holo - 7th Run: Company ?, Date: 07/99, Form 9, Job # ?
Unlimited Holo - 8th Run:
Unlimited Base Uncommon - 8th Run: Company: Yaquinto, Date: 30-7-99, Form 5, Job # 1739
Unlimited Base Energy - 8th Run: Company: Yaquinto, Date: 30-7-99, Form 7, Job # 1739
Unlimited Holo - 11th Run:
Unlimited Common - 11th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 10/1/99, Form 4, Job # P06057270 10 140, PBM # 81369
Unlimited Base Rare 1999-2000 UK - Company: GPS-UK, Date: 2/22/00, Form 9, Job # P06033-110, Signed-off: 21.3.00 Steve T.
Unlimited Base Uncommon 1999-2000 UK - Company: GPS-UK, Date: 2/22/00, Form 8, Job # P06033-110,
Signed-off: 21.3.00 Steve T.
Unlimited Base Common 1999-2000 UK - Company: GPS-UK, Date: 2/22/00, Form 7, Job # P06033-110, Signed-off: 21.3.00 Steve T.
Chinese 1st Edition Starter Holo - 1st Run: Company ?, Date: 03/00, Form 2S, Job # ?, Sheet Layout Date: 3-11-00
Chinese Unlimited Common - 1st Run: Company ?, Date: 04/00, Form 4, Job #PO6033-110-01-140, Sign-off: 4-18-00 7:52PM
Chinese Unlimited Starter - 1st Run: Company ?, Date: 04/00, Form 3, Job #PO6033-110-01-140, Sign-off: 4-18-00 10:45AM
Chinese Unlimited PCD 2 - 1st Run: Company ?, Date: 04/00, Form 2, Job #PO6033-110-01-140, Sign-off: 4-18-00 4:42AM
Chinese Unlimited PCD 1 - 1st Run: Company ?, Date: 04/00, Form 1, Job #PO6033-110-01-140, Sign-off: 4-17-00 6:47PM
Jungle Set:
1st Edition Holo - ? Run: Company: UV Color (?), Date: 5/99, Form J6, Job # ?
Unlimited Holo (No Symbol) - ? Run: Company: UV Color (?), Date: ?, Form J6, Job # ?, Sign-off: 11-11-99 8:13PM
Unlimited PCD Holo - ? Run : Company:UV Color (?), Date 07/99, Form J5
Unlimited Rare - 4th Run: Company: Yaquinto , Date 8/9/99, Form 4, Job # 1773
Unlimited Common - 4th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 8/10/99, Form 2
Unlimited Uncommon - 4th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 8/15/99, Form 3, Job # ?, PBM #80593
Unlimited PCD - 5th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 9/1/99, Form 1, Job # P06063270 04 140, PBM # 80918
Unlimited Common - 5th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: , Form ?, Job # ?, PBM #81369
Unlimited Uncommon - 5 1/2th & 6th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 11/10/99, Form 3, Job #PO6063-270-04-140 PBM #82065
Unlimited Common - 1999-2000 Asia: Company: ?, Date: 3/31/00, Form 2, Sign-off: 26/6/00
Fossil Set:
Unlimited Uncommon - 1st Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 9/1/99, Form 3, Job #W06071110 00 140, PBM #80661
Unlimited Uncommon - 3rd Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 10/1/99, Form 3, Job #W06071110 02 140, PBM #81370
Unlimited PCD - 3rd Run: - Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 10/1/99 - Form 1, W06071-110-02.140, PBM # 81370
Unlimited Rare - 4th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 11/1/99 - Form 4, Job # W06071110 03 140, PBM # 81647
Unlimited Common 4th Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 11/1/99 - Form ?, Job ?, PBM # 81647
Unlimited PCD - ? Run - Company: Yaquinto, Date: 11-18-99 - Form 1, Job # 2229, Sign-off: 11/22/99 23:45PM
German Common - 1st Run - Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 9/5/00, Form 2, PBM #87204
Base Set 2:
Energy - 3rd Run - Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 3/1/00, Form 7, Job # P06134-110-02-140, PBM # 83451
Team Rocket Set:
Unlimited Holo - ? Run: Company: UV Color (?) , Date: 03/00, Form R6
Unlimited Rare - 1st Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 3/15/00, Form 4, Job# W06174110 00 140, PBM #83453
Unlimited Common - 1st Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 3/15/00, Form 2, Job# W06174110 00 140, PBM # 83453
Unlimited Common - 2nd Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date 4/1/00, Form 2, Job# W06174110 01 140, PBM # 84302
Neo Genesis Set:
Unlimited Common - 1st Run: Company: PBM Graphics, Date: 11/6/00, Form 1, PBM # 87588
Neo Discovery Set:
Unlimited Rare - ? Run: Company: Carta Mundi, Date: ?, Form 4, Approval: 14.05.01 16:30AM
Unlimited PCD Whallop - ? Run: Company: Carta Mundi, Date: 4/26/01, Form 4, Approval: 17.05.01 12:30AM
Unlimited PCD Brain Wave - ? Run: Company: Carta Mundi, Date: 4/26/01, Form 5, Approval:
Promo Cards:
Arcanine # (League Season 4): Company: Yaquinto, Date 12/27/99, Form 1, Job # 2335, Sign-off: 1-4-2000 11:40PM
Ancient Mew (2nd Movie) : Company: UV Color (?) , Date 4/14/00 (05/99), Form 1, Job ?
Pichu # (Neo 2 League Lv. 4): Company: UV Color, Date 2/20/01 (03/01), Form 1, Job ?, Sign-off: 2-27-01 1:50PM
First Card Layout Test (Black Borders) - Early 1998
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2nd Layout Test (Yellow Borders)
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3rd Layout Test (Yellow Border - Star Foil)
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1st Edition Base (Thick Stamps) Holo
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1st Edition Base (Thin Stamps) Holo
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Shadowless Base Holo
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Shadowless Base Holo (Ver. 2)
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Layout test for Unlimited Base Holo (?)
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Unlimited Base Holo
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Unlimited Base Uncommon
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Unlimited Base Common
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Unlimited Base Energy
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Unlimited Base PCD Holo
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Unlimited Base PCD Holo Cosmos Foil
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Unlimited Base PCD Overgrowth & Zap
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Unlimited Base Starter Holo
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German 1st Edition Base Holo
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French Unlimited Base Uncommon
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French Unlimited Base Common
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French Unlimited Base Energy
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French Unlimited Base Blackout PCD
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Italian Unlimited Base Holo
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Chinese Unlimited Base Holo
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Chinese Unlimited Base Rare
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Chinese Unlimited Base Uncommon
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Chinese Unlimited Base Common
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Chinese Unlimited Base Energy
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Chinese 1st Edition Base Starter Machamp
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Chinese Unlimited Base Starter
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Chinese Unlimited Base PCD Holo
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Chinese Unlimited Base PCD 1 - Blackout & Brushfire
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Chinese Unlimited PCD 2 - Overgrowth & Zap
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UK Unlimited Base Holo 1999-2000
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UK Unlimited Base Rare 1999-2000
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UK Unlimited Base Uncommon 1999-2000
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UK Unlimited Base Common 1999-2000
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UK Unlimited Base 1999-2000 PCD 1
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UK Unlimited Base 1999-2000 PCD 2
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UK Unlimited Base 1999-2000 Starter
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Australian Unlimited Base Test Sheet (with 1st ed. Energies)
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Pikachu Duelist Magazine Promo - W Stamp (May 1999)
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1st Edition Jungle Holo
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Unlimited Jungle Holo - No Set Symbol
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Unlimited Jungle Rare
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Unlimited Jungle Rare - No Borders
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Unlimited Jungle Uncommon
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Unlimited Jungle PCD - No Borders
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Unlimited Jungle PCD Holo
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Australian Unlimited Jungle Common
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1st Edition Fossil Prerelease Aerodactyl Holo
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Unlimited Fossil Holo KB Toys
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Unlimited Fossil Rare
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Unlimited Fossil Rare Magenta Only Back
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Unlimited Fossil Uncommon
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Unlimited Fossil Uncommon + Jungle PCD
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Unlimited Fossil PCD
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German Unlimited Fossil Common
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Pokemon The First Movie Promos - WB Stamp
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Arcanine Blackstar Promo Pokemon League
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Base Set 2 Rare
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Base Set 2 Uncommon Cyan Only
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Base Set 2 Energy - (3rd Run - 1st March 2000)
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Base Set 2 PCD
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Unlimited Team Rocket Holo - 1st run
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Unlimited Team Rocket Rare - 1st run
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Unlimited Team Rocket Uncommon - Single stamped borders
(First Run - Non-Holo Dragonite Error)
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Unlimited Team Rocket Common - 1st Run
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Unlimited Team Rocket Common - 2nd Run
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Unlimited Team Rocket Holo - Super Trainer Showdown Foil Test
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Unlimited Gym Heroes Uncommon - 2nd and 3rd Run
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Unlimited Gym Heroes Common - 2nd and 3rd Run
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Unlimited Gym Heroes PCD Brock & Misty
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Ancient Mew Promo Holo - Test White Back
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Unlimited Neo Genesis Common - 1st run
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Pichu Holo Blackstar Promo
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Unlimited Neo Discovery Rare
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Unlimited Neo Discovery Uncommon
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Unlimited Neo Discovery Common
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Unlimited Neo Discovery PCD Brain Wave
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Unlimited Neo Discovery PCD Wallop
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German Unlimited Neo Discovery Rare
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Entei Holo Blackstar Promo - Black Only
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Legendary Collection PCD Turmoil
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Expedition Proof Sheet
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Expedition Reverse Holo
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Box Topper / Jumbo Sheets
Skyridge Box Topper German & Italian
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Packaging:
Base Set Booster Pack Wrapper Roll
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Base Set Booster Pack Wrappers (before width is cut into to individual rolls)
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Base Set PCD Brushfire Packaging Sheet
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Jungle Booster Box Packaging Sheet
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Fossil Booster Pack Wrapper Roll
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Legendary Collection PCD Lava Proof - Champions Magma
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Legendary Collection PCD Turmoil Proof - Champions Storm
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The Pokemon Company International:
Nintendo Black Star Promo Holo - Pikachu (012) and Mewoth (013) EX Series Collector's Tin 2003
Diamond & Pearl Black Star Promo (DP09,DP10,DP11), Diamond & Pearl Holo, Diamond & Pearl Uncommon, Diamond & Pearl Common
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Ex Team Magma VS Aqua Italian Reverse Holo
Pop Series 9 Common & Uncommon
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World Championships 2005 Deck Curran Hill
DP Stormfront Reverse Holo
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Ex Dragon Frontiers Holo, Diamond & Pearl Reverse, Diamond & Pearl Lv.X
Black & White Next Destinies Full Art Test
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BW Radiant Collection Holo
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XY Generations Holo
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20th Anniversary Sheet #1
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20th Anniversary Sheet #2
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20th Anniversary Sheet #3
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20th Anniversary Sheet #4
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20th Anniversary Sheet #5
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20th Anniversary Sheet #6
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20th Anniversary Sheet #7
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20th Anniversary Sheet #8
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Japanese:
For Japanese though, it's almost impossible to figure out where the cards were and are printed. During my long research I found a few hints that the cards from 1996 to 2000-ish were all printed in-house by Nintendo itself!
Many people probably don't know, but Nintendo actually started out as a playing card company back in 1889. That's why the card quality is so much better than the English ones. Experience is everything.
Because Nintendo is very strict with their security, not many sheets ever got out of the factory, opposed to WOTC ones. In addition to that the mentality in Japan is to usually throw stuff away anyway, because space in the big cities is so limited.
In 21 years, only 11 different sheets surfaced publicly on the market, only 2 of them being full sheets. Most of these sheets came from a single person selling what he obtained years ago from a friend who was an employee. They were listed on a Japanese auction website in 2017 and quickly dried up.
There were also a couple pictures from books and magazines depicting sheets that never hit the market. Some of these sheets can also be seen in the background of photos taken in Gamefreak's old office in Tokyo.
For Japanese though, it's almost impossible to figure out where the cards were and are printed. During my long research I found a few hints that the cards from 1996 to 2000-ish were all printed in-house by Nintendo itself!
Many people probably don't know, but Nintendo actually started out as a playing card company back in 1889. That's why the card quality is so much better than the English ones. Experience is everything.
Because Nintendo is very strict with their security, not many sheets ever got out of the factory, opposed to WOTC ones. In addition to that the mentality in Japan is to usually throw stuff away anyway, because space in the big cities is so limited.
In 21 years, only 11 different sheets surfaced publicly on the market, only 2 of them being full sheets. Most of these sheets came from a single person selling what he obtained years ago from a friend who was an employee. They were listed on a Japanese auction website in 2017 and quickly dried up.
There were also a couple pictures from books and magazines depicting sheets that never hit the market. Some of these sheets can also be seen in the background of photos taken in Gamefreak's old office in Tokyo.
Uncut Sheets (Single Quadrants) :
拡張パック (Expansion Pack) Holo
化石の秘密 (Mystery of the Fossils) Holo
金、銀、新世界へ... (Gold, Silver, to a New World...) Holo
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ポケモンジャングル (Pokemon Jungle) Holo Test - White Back
ロケット団 (Team Rocket) Holo
みんなで選んだポケモンソング&ポケモンカード～ポケモン♪ベストコレクション (Pokemon Song Best Collection) CD Promo - Pikachu Shadowless
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ポケモンジャングル (Pokemon Jungle) Uncommon Test
ヤマブキシティジム ナツメ (Saffron City Gym Sabrina) PCD Holo - Sabrina Trainer
ロケット団 (Team Rocket) Uncommon
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ポケモンジャングル (Pokemon Jungle) Common Test
ヤマブキシティジム ナツメ (Saffron City Gym Sabrina) PCD Holo - Sabrina's Alakazam
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Uncut Sheets (Full) :
拡張パック (Expansion Pack) Holo
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拡張パック (Expansion Pack) Common
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ロケット団 (Team Rocket) Holo
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Uncut Sheets pictures from other sources :
ロケット団 (Team Rocket) Common
5th Movie Jumbo Latias & Latios Holo - Proof
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ロケット団 (Team Rocket) Uncommon
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ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1 : Leaders Stadium) Holo
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金、銀、新世界へ... (Gold, Silver, to a New World...) Holo
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Partial / Hand-cut Uncut Sheets:
ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Uncommon A
ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Uncommon B - Missing Misty's Poliwhirl, Misty's Tentacool, Misty's Dewgong
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ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Uncommon A
ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Uncommon B - Missing Misty's Poliwhirl, Misty's Tentacool, Misty's Dewgong
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ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Common
ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Holo - Missing Misty's Seadra & Misty's Gyarados
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ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Common
ジム拡張第1弾 リーダーズスタジアム (Gym Booster 1: Leaders' Stadium) Holo - Missing Misty's Seadra & Misty's Gyarados
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ジム拡張第2弾 闇からの挑戦 (Gym Booster 2: Challenge from the Darkness) Holos handcut
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ジム拡張第2弾 闇からの挑戦 (Gym Booster 2: Challenge from the Darkness) Holos & Secret Uncommon handcut
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ロケット団 (Team Rocket) Common
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Evolution of Japanese Uncut Sheets
Over the years Japanese sheets changed quite a few times. Quite often new features to control and enhance the print quality were added. In the early 2000s the layout was changed to printing the cards connected in a 64 card block instead of in 16 card sections.
Here is an overview with estimated dates of the changes:
1st Layout (estimated at September 1996): First release - No Color Bars or other features to automatically check the print quality. Features numbering on the right side of the back of the sheet.
2nd Layout (estimated at early 1997 ) - Added dark blue strip on the right side of the back to check for consistent back coloring and keep the sheets centered on the production line. Added Identifiers 'A' and 'B' at the top of the back side of the sheet. The A-Version has a dark blue strip at the top right of the back, while the B-Version has a pink strip at the top right of the back.
This could either mean that the sheets were printed at different factories or that there were different sheets produced for cards from boosters and decks.
3rd Layout (estimated at early 1998) - Added color bars at front and back to improve and check for color consistency. Added additional numbering at the top of the back side of the sheet.
4th Layout (estimated at around 2001) - Reordered layout where cards are directly connected on not split into 16 card sections anymore. The exact time and reason of the change is unknown. But Neo 1 exists in both versions, so it is safe to say that the change happened sometime after Neo 1 first printing. Sets known to exist in this style are Neo 1 and Fossil.
5th Layout (estimated around 2002) - Added additional color bars to the right side of the back of the sheet. Estimated time frame is around the change from Neo to E-Series. The only known sheet with this layout is Neo 1.
Here is an overview with estimated dates of the changes:
1st Layout (estimated at September 1996): First release - No Color Bars or other features to automatically check the print quality. Features numbering on the right side of the back of the sheet.
2nd Layout (estimated at early 1997 ) - Added dark blue strip on the right side of the back to check for consistent back coloring and keep the sheets centered on the production line. Added Identifiers 'A' and 'B' at the top of the back side of the sheet. The A-Version has a dark blue strip at the top right of the back, while the B-Version has a pink strip at the top right of the back.
This could either mean that the sheets were printed at different factories or that there were different sheets produced for cards from boosters and decks.
3rd Layout (estimated at early 1998) - Added color bars at front and back to improve and check for color consistency. Added additional numbering at the top of the back side of the sheet.
4th Layout (estimated at around 2001) - Reordered layout where cards are directly connected on not split into 16 card sections anymore. The exact time and reason of the change is unknown. But Neo 1 exists in both versions, so it is safe to say that the change happened sometime after Neo 1 first printing. Sets known to exist in this style are Neo 1 and Fossil.
5th Layout (estimated around 2002) - Added additional color bars to the right side of the back of the sheet. Estimated time frame is around the change from Neo to E-Series. The only known sheet with this layout is Neo 1.
Base Set:
Version 1 (Estimated at September 1996) - also known as No-Rarity Version:
Version 9 (Estimated at early 1997):
Version 15 (Estimated at late 1997):
Version 27 (estimated at mid 1998):
Version 77 (estimated at mid to late 1999):
Version 97 (estimated at late 1999 / early 2000)
Got any Uncut Sheets that aren't pictured here? Feel free to drop me a message!
Any help is much appreciated!
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Images collected and uploaded for educational/information purposes only.
All images remain property of their respective owners
All images remain property of their respective owners
