1st Edition
1st Edition cards come from the very first print run of a set, identified by a black "Edition 1" stamp, and are the scarcest version of each card.
1st Edition marks the initial print run of sets from the Wizards of the Coast era (1999–2003). Once that run sold through, sets were reprinted without the stamp as Unlimited. On Base Set era Pokémon cards, the round "Edition 1" stamp sits at the lower-left of the artwork.
Because print runs were smallest at launch, 1st Edition copies are the most sought-after version of any WotC-era card — a 1st Edition Base Set Charizard is among the most famous cards in the hobby. Practical caution: fake stamps exist, so on expensive cards compare the stamp's position, size, and sharpness against verified examples, or buy copies already authenticated by a grading company.