1996 Japanese Pokémon Card – Bulbasaur No.001 / No Rarity
An original Japanese Bulbasaur (Fushigidane) No.001 from the very beginning of the Pokémon Card Game, released in Japan in 1996.
This card is the early “No Rarity Symbol” version, identifiable by the absence of a rarity symbol in the lower-right corner.
These early no-rarity cards are highly collectible as some of the earliest cards from the original Japanese Pokémon Card Game era.
A Piece of Pokémon Card History
Released during the launch era of the original Japanese Pokémon Card Game, this Bulbasaur carries the iconic No.001 card number.
That combination makes this card particularly appealing from a historical perspective:
1996 Japanese Base Set
No Rarity Symbol early version
Card No.001
Original Japanese old-back design
Artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita
Bulbasaur is also one of the original Kanto starter Pokémon, and this classic illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita captures the distinctive style of Pokémon’s earliest trading card era.
For collectors interested in the origins of the Pokémon TCG, this is a wonderful example of where the Japanese card history began.
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🔍 Condition
MP (Moderately Played)
The condition has been evaluated based on eBay’s official trading card condition guidelines, with a conservative approach taken for this vintage card.
This is an authentic vintage card from 1996 and shows age-related wear.
The front retains good overall color and presentation, especially considering its age. However, there are several light linear surface marks / shallow crease-like impressions visible near the upper portion of the card. Some of these are difficult to see when viewed straight on and become more noticeable under angled lighting.
The back shows noticeable edge and corner wear, whitening, and surface wear, particularly around the upper edge and corners.
Because some of the front surface imperfections can be difficult to capture in a standard straight-on photograph, a dedicated “Points to Check” image has been included to show them more clearly. Please review all close-up photos carefully before purchasing.
Despite the wear, the card retains strong visual appeal from the front and remains an attractive example of this historically significant 1996 No Rarity Bulbasaur No.001.
The card shown in the photos is the exact card you will receive.
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📦 Packaging & Shipping
The card will be carefully protected for international shipping:
Ships from Japan with care.
Own one of the earliest forms of Bulbasaur ever released in the Pokémon Card Game — a 1996 Japanese No Rarity No.001 with the original Mitsuhiro Arita artwork.
If you're interested in other items from our store, we're happy to combine shipping, so feel free to check out our other listings!
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