Set Overview
Mystery of the Fossils, released June 21, 1997, was the third Japanese set. Like Jungle it runs to 48 cards, and it is the set that brought fossil Pokémon into the game.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Japanese Name | 化石の秘密 (Kaseki no Himitsu) |
| Release Date | June 21, 1997 |
| Total Cards | 48 cards |
| Publisher | Media Factory |
| Card Types | 43 Pokémon · 5 Trainer |
| Holo Rares | 16 |
| Theme | Fossil Pokémon |
About the Set
The set follows Jungle’s structure exactly — 16 commons, 16 uncommons and 16 holo rares — and adds the Mysterious Fossil Trainer card. It also contains a holo Mew, which the English Fossil set does not have.
The English counterpart is Fossil, released October 10, 1999 with 62 cards.
How These Cards Are Numbered
Cards from this era carry no collector number. The number printed at the bottom right of the card is the Pokédex number of the Pokémon — the 25th card of Expansion Pack is Staryu, and it reads No. 120. Trainer and Energy cards have no number at all.
What the gallery shows: each tile is numbered by its position in the set (#1 to #48), which is the order the set is catalogued in, not a number printed on the card. Open a card and the lightbox gives both the position and the Pokédex number the card actually prints.
Rarity is shown on the card face instead, as a small symbol next to the Pokédex number: a circle for common, a diamond for uncommon and a star for rare.
Complete Card Gallery
All 48 cards from Mystery of the Fossils, in set order. Click any card to view it full size — use the arrow keys (or swipe) to move through the set.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7Holo
8
9Holo
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22Holo
23Holo
24Holo
25Holo
26Holo
27
28
29
30Holo
31Holo
32Holo
33Holo
34
35
36
37
38
39Holo
40Holo
41Holo
42Holo
43Holo
44
45
46
47
48Other Japanese Sets
English readers may also want the Fossil set guide, and the Japanese to English set map for how the two release schedules line up.
| Set | Japanese Name | Released | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expansion Pack | 拡張パック | October 20, 1996 | 102 cards |
| Pokémon Jungle | ポケモンジャングル | March 5, 1997 | 48 cards |
| Rocket Gang | ロケット団 | November 21, 1997 | 65 cards |
| Leaders’ Stadium | リーダーズスタジアム | October 24, 1998 | 96 cards |
| Challenge from the Darkness | 闇からの挑戦 | June 25, 1999 | 98 cards |
| Gold, Silver, to a New World... | 金、銀、新世界へ... | February 4, 2000 | 96 cards |
| Crossing the Ruins... | 遺跡をこえて... | July 7, 2000 | 56 cards |
| Awakening Legends | めざめる伝説 | November 23, 2000 | 57 cards |
| Darkness, and to Light... | 闇、そして光へ... | April 20, 2001 | 113 cards |
| Base Expansion Pack | 基本拡張パック | December 1, 2001 | 128 cards |
| The Town on No Map | 地図にない町 | March 8, 2002 | 92 cards |
| Wind from the Sea | 海からの風 | May 24, 2002 | 90 cards |
| Split Earth | 裂けた大地 | August 23, 2002 | 91 cards |
| Mysterious Mountains | 神秘なる山 | October 4, 2002 | 91 cards |
| Flight of Legends | 伝説の飛翔 | April 8, 2004 | 82 cards |
| Clash of the Blue Sky | 蒼空の激突 | July 1, 2004 | 82 cards |
| Team Rocket’s Strikes Back | ロケット団の逆襲 | October 15, 2004 | 85 cards |
| Golden Sky, Silvery Ocean | 金の空、銀の海 | April 8, 2005 | 106 cards |
Collecting & Where to Buy
Mystery of the Fossils tracks Jungle closely on price. Mew, Dragonite, Gengar and Aerodactyl are the holo rares that draw the most attention.
Collector tip: The card lists are not interchangeable with the English Fossil set: this set has Mew at number 33, and English Fossil has no Mew at all.
Note: external links are provided for reference only. Always confirm a card’s printing, condition and authenticity before purchasing.