First Edition

First edition refers to cards from the earliest print run of a set, often marked with a distinguishing stamp or symbol, most famously in trading card games. First-edition cards are scarcer than the later unlimited printing of the same set and are prized accordingly.

Identifying a first edition correctly is essential for both valuation and cataloging, because a first-edition card and its unlimited counterpart can look almost identical apart from a small mark yet trade very differently. The specific edition belongs in your records as part of the card's identity. Learning the exact mark that distinguishes a first edition for a given set is one of the highest-value pieces of knowledge for collectors of that set, and it is worth confirming before you buy or sell.