The Original 151 Pokémon: A Collector's Guide to Kanto's First Cards
For millions of fans, Pokémon begins and ends with 151 names. Bulbasaur to Mew, they are the creatures that launched a global phenomenon in 1996 — and nearly thirty years later, their trading cards remain the most collected, most nostalgic, and most valuable corner of the entire hobby. Whether you grew up trading them at recess or you are just discovering the chase, here is what makes the original 151 special, and why their cards still command attention (and serious money) today.
What "The Original 151" Actually Means
The "original 151" refers to the first generation of Pokémon — every species from the Kanto region, numbered #001 (Bulbasaur) through #151 (Mew) in the National Pokédex. They debuted in Pokémon Red and Green in Japan in 1996, then reached the world through Red and Blue. This is the roster that defined the franchise: Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur, Pikachu, Gengar, Mewtwo, and the elusive Mew, whose in-game secret earned it near-mythical status.
Because these Pokémon came first, they carry a nostalgia that later generations simply cannot replicate. That emotional weight is a big reason their cards behave differently in the market than almost anything else.
A Short History of the 151 in Cards
The Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in Japan in 1996 and arrived in English in 1999 with the legendary Base Set — 102 cards printed by Wizards of the Coast. Nearly every card in that first English set featured an original-151 Pokémon, and one in particular became the holy grail: the Base Set Charizard (#4/102). First Edition and Shadowless printings of that card now sell for thousands, and top-grade copies for far more.
The WOTC era that followed — Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, and the Gym sets — kept building on Kanto, cementing the original 151 as the foundation of the hobby. To this day, a graded vintage Kanto holo is one of the most recognizable and liquid assets a collector can own.
Why the 151 Still Dominate Collecting
Three forces keep these Pokémon on top. First is nostalgia: the people who watched the original anime and played the first games are now adults with disposable income, and they collect what they loved. Second is iconic design — Charizard, Gengar, and Mewtwo are among the best-looking Pokémon ever drawn, and artists return to them again and again. Third is scarcity meeting demand: vintage print runs were small by modern standards, and pristine survivors are rare.
The result is a market where a single Kanto card can appreciate like a collectible coin or a vintage comic — and where new releases featuring the 151 sell out almost instantly.
Modern 151 Cards Worth Knowing
The original 151 are not just a vintage story. In 2023, Pokémon released a set built entirely around them — Scarlet & Violet 151 in English (and sv2a "Pokémon Card 151" in Japan) — reintroducing all 151 with stunning modern artwork. It became one of the most popular sets in years, prized for its full-art "ex" cards, Special Illustration Rares, and gorgeous alternate arts.
Japanese variants added even more chase potential. The Master Ball reverse holo pattern from the 151 set, for example, is a hyper-rare foil treatment that turns an ordinary card into a collector trophy. Newer sets keep the theme alive too, from premium metal cards to Team Rocket–themed reimaginings of Kanto favorites. In other words, "collecting the 151" now spans nearly thirty years of releases — vintage and modern alike.
How to Start Collecting the Original 151
You do not need a Charizard to begin. Many collectors start by targeting favorite Pokémon across eras, mixing an affordable modern holo with a vintage single or two. A few fundamentals help: buy the best condition you can afford, since grade drives value; learn to spot key variants like First Edition, Shadowless, alternate arts, and special foils; and consider third-party grading (PSA is the industry standard) for cards you plan to hold. Above all, collect what you love — the 151 reward passion as much as strategy.
Introducing the SwishX 151 Kanto Edition Pack
That brings us to something we are excited to launch today. The 151 Kanto Edition pack at SwishX is a $50 pack built entirely around the original 151 Pokémon — but with a twist. The cards inside are not limited to one set or one year. They can come from any era, vintage or modern, as long as the Pokémon is one of the original Kanto 151. It is a celebration of the first generation across the whole history of the hobby.
And then there is the X-Factor — the ultimate chase card hidden inside select packs, valued at $2,400:
Shining Mewtwo (2002 Neo Destiny) — one of the most beloved grails of the vintage era. This graded PSA 8 features Mewtwo (#150) in its rare metallic "Shining" artwork by Hironobu Yoshida — a card that predated the modern shiny craze by two decades and still ranks among the most iconic pulls in the entire hobby.
Mewtwo has stood at the pinnacle of Kanto power since 1996, and this card is where nostalgia, rarity, and history collide. Every 151 Kanto Edition pack is a chance to reconnect with the Pokémon that started it all — and maybe pull a card worth nearly fifty times what you paid.
Ready to open the region that began the legend? The 151 Kanto Edition is live now at SwishX.co.