Topps produced these Pokémon cards between 1999 and 2000, based on the animated series. They are collectible cards, not the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Each card shows a Pokémon from the original 151 over a printed background. All 185 Pokémon cards are grouped by series below — click any card to view it full-size.
History
Topps produced Pokémon trading cards under license from 1999 to 2004. The cards are collectibles, not the playable Pokémon Trading Card Game. They use artwork from the animated series and the films.
The sets covered three regions: Kanto (Series 1 to 3), Johto (Johto Series 1 and Johto League Champions), and Hoenn (Advanced and Advanced Challenge). Topps also released two sets based on the first two Pokémon films. The cards on this page are the Kanto sets.
Series 1 had four print runs, identified by the color of the Topps logo: blue, black, green, and red.
Topps Chrome cards came in parallel versions of increasing rarity: standard Chrome, Spectra, Sparkle, and Tekno. Sparkle cards appeared about once in every ten packs, and Tekno cards about once in every fifteen.
The rarest cards are the most sought-after. These include the Tekno Charizard and the “First Appearance” foil cards from the Movie 2000 set, such as Lugia. Pristine graded copies sell for several hundred to a few thousand dollars.
The glossy chrome coating can cause cards to stick together, especially in sealed packs. This makes high-grade copies harder to find.
Topps did not renew its Pokémon license, which expired in 2008.
Character & Insert Cards
The physical Topps sets also included cards that are not Pokémon cards. Clean scans of them are not available, so they are not shown above. Series 1 included thirteen character cards and a checklist, numbered separately:
TV1 Ash · TV2 Pikachu · TV3 Misty · TV4 Brock · TV5 Staryu · TV6 Geodude · TV7 Professor Oak · TV8 Gary · TV9 Jessie · TV10 James · TV11 Meowth · TV12 Ekans / Arbok · TV13 Koffing / Weezing · CL Checklist
Series 1 and Series 2 scans are the Topps Chrome versions (chromium finish); Series 3 is the non-chrome foil. Later series also had their own character, episode and puzzle cards, not listed here.