1st Ed vs later Printings

[Kprobnat]

Hi,I understand my 2 Electabuzz cards have a value difference but am scratching my head on how to tell on my non 1st ed non shadowless Electabuzz what printing is it?
Basic Set
20/102

With shadow
Non holo
Not 1st ed
Copyright 1995, 96, 98
Nintendo Creatures
Gamefreak
Copyright 1999 Wizards

 

[Kprobnat]

2nd related quest. I have 4 zapdos. 2 holo and 2 non, none are 1st ed., how do I know values?

1stcard
Zapdos,Holo,Basic,Fossil,15/62,shadowed, BOLDED 80 HP, illus. Mitsuhiro Arita,copyright 1995,96,98 Nintendo,Creatures,GAMEFREAK.Copyright 1999-2000 Wizards.

2ndcard
Zapdos,non-holo,Basic,Fossil,30/62,lighter shadow than card #3, Nonbolded 80 HP, illus. Mitsuhiro Arita copyright 1995,96,98 Nintendo,Creatures,GAMEFREAK.Copyright 1999 Wizards.

3rdcard
Zapdos non-holo,Basic,Fossil,30/62,Darker shadow than cards 1 or 2,Nonbolded 80 HP,illus. Mitsuhiro Arita copyright 1995,96,98 Nintendo,Creatures,GAMEFREAK.Copyright 1999 Wizards.

4thcard
Zapdos,holo,Basic(NO Fossil sign),16/102,
Narrow shadow,Nonbolded 90 HP (HighestHP card). Two fighting skills Thunder and Thunderbolt. The last typed line on this card is ALL BOLD FONT illus. Ken Sugimori copyright 1995,86,98 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. Copyright 1999 Wizards.

So 4 Zapdos cards - 2 holo and 2 non. No 1st ed. One has bolded HP font and this same card has lightest shadow. One has the entire last line bolded font. One is different illustrator. One has different copyright year for Wizards. The #4 card has 2 fighting skills and extra retreat cost.
Please share some light, I have many multiple cards that share same small differences.
Best regards Kathy

 

[Fairy]

I'm confused, what do you want to know about the Electabuzz? The one on the right is shadowless. Do you just want to know the price?

Just making sure in case, don't wanna waste your time!

Also the slight differences in each Fossil Zapdos can be attributed to the printing process and how much ink is used. I can explain this process for if you want!

 

[donavannj]

So, for Electabuzz, the shadowless runs are only for two printings, the first edition printing and the first of the unlimited printings, iirc. There was a second unlimited printing with shadows and a "UK-only" third unlimited printing with a copyright year of 1999-2000 printed on it instead of just 1999 printed on it. Your Electabuzz is from the 1st Edition Shadowless run. The other is from a shadowed run but I can't tell what copyright year as the photo is too blurry.

For Zapdos, what you have is 1 Base Set from one of the shadowed unlimited printings (can't quite tell the copyright year from your photo as the text is unreadable, could you take a better picture of the copyright text line?) and then 3 Fossil set ones (the skeleton hand is the set symbol for the Fossil expansion set), 2 of which are the non-holo version, based on what the very blurry collector's numbers look like and the fact that you can see the lightning bolts in the art on two of them but not on the other.

 

[Kprobnat]

Hi, for electabuzz I am in general trying to understand the different printings and then sell at a fair asking price. I read that some shadowed runs were small in the amount of cards that were made. Both electabuzz cards have same info on the bottom and appear the same except one is 1st edition. I just noticed the non 1st ed (new photos) Top right 70 HP is bolder font than 1st ed.
For Zapdos same question, I want to be more knowledgable so I keep the right ones. I am original owner so I am a little attached to my cards but at the same I would like others to Enjoy them too. I will post a couple of replies since I can only attach two in one post. Maybe pics are blurry because I sent in 'small' size?
And Thank you in advance for your help!!

 

[Kprobnat]

Hi, for electabuzz I am in general trying to understand the different printings and then sell at a fair asking price. I read that some shadowed runs were small in the amount of cards that were made. Both electabuzz cards have same info on the bottom and appear the same except one is 1st edition. I just noticed the non 1st ed (new photos) Top right 70 HP is bolder font than 1st ed.
For Zapdos same question, I want to be more knowledgable so I keep the right ones. I am original owner so I am a little attached to my cards but at the same I would like others to Enjoy them too. I will post a couple of replies since I can only attach two pics in a post. I did notice my pictures are clearer when i click on the file and not zoom in on thumbnail
And Thank you in advance for your help!!

 

[Kprobnat]

Here is the zapdosWithout fossil on the right, and now I see the better holo when side by side with the fossil holo.
Card on right is non fossil set 16/102 95,96,98 and 1999
Fossil holo on left without better thunderbolts is 15/62 and 95,96,98 and 1999-2000

 

[donavannj]

Hi, for electabuzz I am in general trying to understand the different printings and then sell at a fair asking price. I read that some shadowed runs were small in the amount of cards that were made. Both electabuzz cards have same info on the bottom and appear the same except one is 1st edition. I just noticed the non 1st ed (new photos) Top right 70 HP is bolder font than 1st ed.
For Zapdos same question, I want to be more knowledgable so I keep the right ones. I am original owner so I am a little attached to my cards but at the same I would like others to Enjoy them too. I will post a couple of replies since I can only attach two in one post. Maybe pics are blurry because I sent in 'small' size?
And Thank you in advance for your help!!

For the base set shadowed runs, people aren't as picky about the distinctions, iirc, simply because a lot of the people selling and buying don't know the difference. You have one from the first shadowed print run for your non-first edition one, based on the copyright year (plain old "1999").

A thing about the shadowed cards is that their HP fonts are bolder than the shadowless prints. That along with the shadow along the bottom and right edges of the card art frame, are the two easiest tells as to whether you've got a shadowed or shadowless print.

Here is the zapdosWithout fossil on the right, and now I see the better holo when side by side with the fossil holo.
Card on right is non fossil set 16/102 95,96,98 and 1999
Fossil holo on left without better thunderbolts is 15/62 and 95,96,98 and 1999-2000

The Base Set one (one on the right), is from the first shadowed Base Set print run like your non-1st edition Electabuzz is.

Does this clarify enough or do you need more info/help?