Set Overview
Fossil was the third Pokémon TCG set in English, released on 10 October 1999 by Wizards of the Coast. It adapted Japan's Mystery of the Fossils and contains 62 cards: 57 Pokémon and 5 Trainers, with a prehistoric theme covering the fossil Pokémon and the legendary birds. It was printed in 1st Edition and Unlimited runs.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | October 10, 1999 (English) · June 21, 1997 (Japanese Mystery of the Fossils) |
| Publisher | Wizards of the Coast |
| Total Cards | 62 cards (57 Pokémon · 5 Trainers · 0 Energy) |
| Holographic Rares | 15 (cards 1–15, including Dragonite, Gengar, Aerodactyl, Lapras & the legendary birds) |
| Set Symbol | Fossil/ammonite icon (bottom-right of the artwork) |
| Notable Printings | 1st Edition · Unlimited · "No symbol" error rares |
| Key Chase Cards | Dragonite 4/62, Gengar 5/62 & Aerodactyl 1/62 (Holo) |
About the Set
Fossil released a few months after Jungle and rounded out the original 151, adding the fossil Pokémon (Aerodactyl, Kabutops, Omastar), the legendary birds and evolutions like Dragonite and Gengar. The 15 holo rares are cards 1–15, and each also appears as a non-holo rare (cards 16–30). The rest is commons and uncommons plus five Trainers, including the Mysterious Fossil card. Fossil has no basic Energy cards.
The "no symbol" error: as in Jungle, the first print run of Fossil's non-holo rares (cards 16–30) left off the rarity symbol. These error versions are scarcer and worth more than the corrected cards. 1st Edition copies carry the 1st Edition stamp on the left.
Printings: 1st Edition & Unlimited
Like Jungle, Fossil skipped the separate "Shadowless" stage that Base Set had — the cards already carried the drop shadow. Each Fossil card exists in two main printings, plus a sought-after error version of the rares.
| Printing | How to spot it | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Edition | A black "1st EDITION" stamp on the lower-left of the artwork. The first, smaller print run. | First run — most valuable |
| Unlimited | No stamp. Otherwise identical to the 1st Edition card. | The main, long run — most common |
| "No symbol" error | On the non-holo rares (cards 16–30), the first print run left off the rarity symbol in the bottom-right. Corrected in later runs. | Scarcer than the standard rare |
Quick check: a 1st Edition stamp on the lower-left means the first run; no stamp means Unlimited. On a non-holo rare, a missing rarity symbol in the bottom-right corner is the "no symbol" error.
Complete Card Gallery
All 62 cards from Fossil. Click any card to view it full size — use the arrow keys (or swipe) to move through the set.
Key Cards
Fossil's most collected cards are the evolved holos — Dragonite, Gengar and Aerodactyl — along with Lapras.
| Card | Name | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
 |
Dragonite 4/62 Holographic Rare | The first Dragonite card in the TCG and one of the most sought-after holos in the set. |
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Gengar 5/62 Holographic Rare | A fan-favourite holo with well-known artwork, consistently one of the most popular cards in Fossil. |
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Aerodactyl 1/62 Holographic Rare | Card #1 of the set and the headline fossil Pokémon, brought back from the Old Amber. |
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Lapras 10/62 Holographic Rare | A popular Water holo, widely collected for its artwork. |
Promo Cards
Wizards of the Coast gave out Black Star Promo cards through the Pokémon League, the movies, magazines and toys. They weren't part of any single set — the series ran to 53 cards across the whole WotC era. The legendary-bird promos (Articuno #22, Zapdos #23, Moltres #21) pair naturally with Fossil's holographic Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.
Wizards Black Star Promos use their own numbering (#1–#53) and carry a black star where a set symbol would be.
Collecting & Where to Buy
Fossil has been out of print for over two decades, so sealed product and singles only trade on the secondary market. Price depends mostly on printing (1st Edition is worth more than Unlimited), whether it's a "no symbol" error rare, condition and grade. Check all of these before buying.
Collector tip: for a cheaper way in, Unlimited holos and non-holo commons are still affordable, and Base Set 2 (2000) reprinted several Fossil cards. For graded cards, use a well-known grading company and confirm the printing before paying a premium.
Note: external links are provided for reference only. Always confirm a card's printing, condition and authenticity before purchasing.