Pikachu No.025 – 1996 Japanese Base Set No Rarity
An iconic early Japanese Pokémon card featuring Pikachu LV.12, illustrated by legendary Pokémon artist Mitsuhiro Arita.
This card comes from the earliest Japanese Pokémon Card Game Base Set, originally released in Japan on October 20, 1996.
Most notably, this example is the highly collectible No Rarity Symbol version. Unlike later printings, there is no rarity symbol in the lower-right corner, a defining characteristic associated with the earliest Japanese Base Set printing.
One of the Earliest Pikachu Pokémon Cards
For collectors, this card brings together several important pieces of early Pokémon history: the original Japanese Base Set, the famous No Rarity variation, Pikachu, and one of Mitsuhiro Arita’s earliest and most recognizable Pokémon illustrations.
Arita’s artwork captures the famously rounder, fuller-bodied appearance of early Pikachu — often affectionately referred to by collectors as “Chubby Pikachu.”
This early interpretation is dramatically different from Pikachu’s later, slimmer design and has become one of the most recognizable visual signatures of Pokémon’s earliest era.
1996 No Rarity Symbol Version
The Japanese Base Set was the first expansion released for the Pokémon Card Game.
Early examples from the initial production are distinguished by the absence of the rarity symbol found on subsequent printings. These cards are widely known internationally among collectors as “No Rarity” or “No Rarity Symbol” cards.
On this Pikachu, the lower-right area shows only:
No.025
with no rarity symbol beside it.
Combined with Pikachu’s worldwide popularity and the card’s connection to the beginning of the Pokémon TCG, the No Rarity version has become one of the most recognizable early Japanese Pikachu collectibles.
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Condition
Condition: MP (Moderately Played)
The condition has been evaluated conservatively based on eBay’s official trading card condition guidelines.
This is an unusually clean-looking card overall, but it has been graded MP because of one significant localized condition issue.
The front presents exceptionally well for a 1996 card, with very little visible surface wear and clean overall presentation. The back is also notably clean, showing minimal general wear and relatively little edge whitening.
However, the upper-left corner on the back has a visible bend/crease with several fine crease lines extending inward from the edge. This defect is clearly shown in the close-up photos and is the primary reason the card has been conservatively classified as MP rather than EX-range.
Aside from this localized corner damage, there are no similarly significant defects visible elsewhere on the card, and the overall presentation is considerably cleaner than many cards typically encountered in MP condition.
A remarkably clean-looking 1996 No Rarity Pikachu held to MP by one clearly disclosed corner defect — an attractive example for collectors who prioritize overall presentation.
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Exact Card Policy
THE EXACT CARD YOU SEE IS THE CARD YOU’LL RECEIVE.
This listing may be restocked if another copy becomes available.
Whenever restocked, we update the photos, condition, condition description, and relevant listing details to accurately represent the exact card currently offered.
Please review all current photos carefully before purchasing.
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