Jungle 1st Edition
History precedes hype.
Pokémon collecting has priced nostalgia.
History has not been priced yet.
The modern Pokémon card market rewards recognition, mascots, and emotion. This archive documents something quieter and more foundational:
The historical origin of Pokémon — and how it is reflected (or ignored) in the trading card market.
The Origin
Before the trading cards, before the games, before the phenomenon—there was a single sketch.
Original artwork by Ken Sugimori, early 1990s
This sketch of Rhydon represents the very first Pokémon design—the proof of concept that started everything.
Early 1990s
Date of creation
Ken Sugimori
Lead designer, Game Freak
#001
First in creation order
"Rhydon was the first Pokémon ever created. It served as the prototype—the design that proved the concept could work. Every Pokémon that followed owes its existence to this single sketch."
— Documented by Game Freak
The first Pokémon ever designed was Rhydon
Its first English card appearance is 1999 Jungle – 1st Edition – #45
Non-holo cards suffered disproportionate condition loss
Scarcity in Pokémon is often misunderstood as popularity
The Thesis
Why history is still undervalued in Pokémon cards
For most of its life, the Pokémon card market has rewarded:
This is normal for a young collectible category.
But it creates a blind spot: Foundational artifacts can remain undervalued simply because they were not emotionally dominant at the time.
The clearest example of this dynamic is Charizard.
Charizard is not valuable because it is rare.
That is the myth.
The data tells a different story.
The Data
| Card | Total PSA Graded | PSA 10 | PSA 10 Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhydon – Jungle 1st Ed★ | 2,137 | 389 | ~18% |
| Charizard – Base Unlimited | ~89,858 | 489 | ~0.5% |
| Charizard – Shadowless | ~12,658 | 58 | ~0.45% |
| Charizard – 1st Ed Shadowless | ~5,225 | 125 | ~2.4% |
Key Insight
Price follows symbolic demand, not raw scarcity.
Analysis
Pokémon value is driven by rarity
Pokémon value is driven by recognition
High prices imply low population
High prices often precede scarcity narratives
Commons and uncommons are plentiful
Non-holos suffer the greatest condition attrition
Timeline
Early 1990s
Rhydon designed as first Pokémon by Ken Sugimori
Mid 1990s
Pokédex numbering finalized for game development
February 1996
Pokémon Red & Green released in Japan
October 1996
Trading Card Game launches in Japan
June 1999
Jungle expansion introduces Rhydon's first English card appearance (#45)
"The first creation carries weight that later popularity cannot replicate."
FAQ