What does shadowless mean on a Pokemon card?

Shadowless is the second English print run of the 1999 Pokemon Base Set, made after 1st Edition and before Unlimited. Shadowless cards have no drop shadow along the art box and use the thinner HP and attack text of 1st Edition, but carry no 1st Edition stamp. Unlimited cards add the shadow and bolder text.

Trainer and Energy cards have no art box, so their copyright line tells them apart: Shadowless reads "1995, 96, 98, 99", and Unlimited drops the "99". The print exists only in English Base Set.

Before you buy one

• Know the three versions. Many Base Set cards come as 1st Edition (stamped, also without the shadow), Shadowless (no stamp, no shadow) and Unlimited (shadow). A title that says only "shadowless" usually means the middle one, so look for the stamp too.

• Check the art box yourself. Look at the edge of the art box in the photo, because a title alone isn't proof.

• Search with the number. Search "shadowless" with the card number, such as "shadowless 4/102", rather than the Pokemon's name alone. Some sellers split the word ("shadow less") or write "no shadow", and the number still finds those.

• Check that the slab names the print. CGC lists 1st Edition, Shadowless and Unlimited Base Set as separate sets in its population report, so the label should say which one you are buying.

Add a Base Set card from ChaseBoard's catalog and it matches titles like "Shadowless Charizard 4/102" even when the seller leaves out the set name.