Bulbasaur
Best Graded Bulbasaur Cards: The 10 Best and Most Expensive Bulbasaur Cards
By Kyle Eggleston · Published May 13, 2026
Updated Sep 26, 2026
Bulbasaur is the original first-choice starter of the Kanto region. Pokémon number one in the National Pokédex and a beloved fan favorite despite never getting the same headline collector attention as Charizard. Its TCG history spans from rare early WOTC appearances to modern special illustration rares and alternate arts that have established the Grass-type starter as a serious collector target. This guide covers the ten Bulbasaur cards that graded collectors build portfolios around.
Why Bulbasaur cards have a devoted collector base
Bulbasaur's collector identity benefits from being Pokémon number one. That National Pokédex position gives every Bulbasaur card a symbolic weight. It is the literal first Pokémon, and for collectors who care about completeness or origin stories, Bulbasaur is essential. Unlike Charizard, which dominates attention, Bulbasaur operates in a niche where dedicated fans and completionists drive consistent demand without the volatility of trend-chasing.
The first major Bulbasaur graded target is the Base Set Bulbasaur itself in 1st Edition. While this is not a holo. Bulbasaur was a common in Base Set. The 1st Edition stamp on a well-graded Bulbasaur carries genuine WOTC-era value. Beyond Base Set, the character received premium treatment in modern sets, with special illustration rares and alternate arts from Paldea Evolved and other Scarlet and Violet products becoming strong collector targets.
Bulbasaur also benefits from being the character that starters-focused collectors always include. Anyone building a complete original starter collection. Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle. Needs a premium Bulbasaur, and that systematic collector behavior keeps demand steady.
How to build a graded Bulbasaur collection
A Bulbasaur collection typically starts with a Base Set 1st Edition common as the vintage anchor, then adds a modern premium SIR or alternate art as the display centerpiece. Mid-era options include Ivysaur-focused cards or Bulbasaur promos from the Japanese market. Budget collectors often start with modern Scarlet and Violet cards and work backward toward vintage.
Because Bulbasaur is a common in Base Set, the PSA 10 population for the 1st Edition version is actually lower than many assume. Common cards were played heavily, and gem mint examples are genuinely scarce. Always verify population data before pricing vintage Bulbasaur slabs.
Prices as of Oct 21, 2026
- 1
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Base Set · 1999 · 44/102
Base Set 1st Edition Bulbasaur is the foundational Bulbasaur slab and the vintage anchor for any Bulbasaur character collection. As a common, it was widely pulled and played from Base Set packs, which paradoxically makes PSA 10 copies rarer than many expect. Most were played, discarded, or stored poorly. The 1st Edition stamp on Pokémon number one in the original Kanto set carries symbolic weight that goes beyond rarity alone. Collectors who want the original Bulbasaur artwork in a high-grade vintage slab always start here.
The essential vintage Bulbasaur. PSA 10 commons from Base Set 1st Edition are rarer than they appear.
Estimated value: $2.75
- 2
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Paldea Evolved · 2023 · 197/193
Paldea Evolved Bulbasaur is the modern premium Bulbasaur card and the natural contemporary centerpiece for any Bulbasaur graded collection. The special illustration rare presents Bulbasaur in a lush nature setting that emphasizes its Grass and Poison typing in a beautifully illustrated scene. Paldea Evolved delivered consistently high-quality SIR artwork across the set, and the Bulbasaur entry is frequently cited among collectors as one of the most charming character representations in the Scarlet and Violet era. PSA 10 copies are liquid and consistently priced from recent sales.
Best modern Bulbasaur SIR. Charming nature-setting artwork that captures the character perfectly.
- 3
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Pokémon 151 · 2023 · 167/165
Poké Trainer Nic pulls the Bulbasaur from Pokémon 151Pulled by Poké Trainer Nic, Jul 6. Watch on YouTube
Pokémon 151 was a Scarlet and Violet era set dedicated entirely to the original 151 Kanto Pokémon, making it essential for collectors who focus on the original generation. The Bulbasaur special illustration rare from this set carries the added significance of appearing in a Kanto-focused set. Which positions the card naturally alongside Base Set collectors and original-era nostalgia. The artwork uses a more detailed and atmospheric style than the Paldea Evolved SIR, giving collectors a second strong modern Bulbasaur option with a different aesthetic. PSA 10 copies are liquid and consistently available.
The Kanto-focused modern Bulbasaur. Belongs in any original 151 collection alongside the Paldea Evolved SIR.
Estimated value: $1.39
- 4
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Pokémon Snap Promo · 1999 · N/A
The Pokémon Snap Bulbasaur promo was distributed as a contest prize for the original Nintendo 64 game Pokémon Snap, where players photographed Pokémon in the wild. The promo card uses a photograph-style image of Bulbasaur that mimics in-game screenshots, giving it a completely different visual identity from all other Bulbasaur cards. Because it was only available through a contest with limited distribution, the population of PSA 10 copies is extremely small. Collectors who appreciate video game crossover cards or unique promo formats actively pursue this as an unusual Bulbasaur addition.
The Pokémon Snap crossover Bulbasaur. Photo-style artwork from a Nintendo 64 game contest with extremely limited distribution.
Estimated value: $22.75
- 5
Bulbasaur PSA 10
McDonald's Promo 2021 · 2021 · 2/25
Booster Pack Quest pulls the Bulbasaur from McDonald's Promo 2021Pulled by Booster Pack Quest, Mar 24. Watch on YouTube
The McDonald's 25th Anniversary Bulbasaur holo is one of the most popular McDonald's Pokémon promos in the hobby's recent history. Distributed in Happy Meals during Pokémon's 25th anniversary in 2021, the card features an attractive holo treatment of Bulbasaur in a celebratory artwork. The cards were widely sought at release but many were damaged opening the packaging, making PSA 10 copies genuinely difficult to find. It became a pop-culture phenomenon as adults queued for Happy Meals to collect the cards. The Bulbasaur is among the most attractive cards in the 25th anniversary McDonald's run.
The beloved McDonald's 25th Anniversary Bulbasaur. Pop-culture collectible with surprising PSA 10 scarcity.
Estimated value: $2.3
- 6
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Base Set · 1999 · 44/102
Shadowless Bulbasaur from the Base Set early print run is the premium vintage alternative to the 1st Edition for collectors who want early Base Set history at a step down in cost. The absence of the drop shadow on the card border identifies it as an early print. Like the 1st Edition, common cards from this era were heavily played and often poorly stored, so PSA 10 examples are rarer than the card count suggests. For Bulbasaur collectors who cannot access the 1st Edition price, the Shadowless version offers early-print prestige at a lower cost.
Early-print vintage Bulbasaur at a step below the 1st Edition. Same era identity and similar condition challenges.
Estimated value: $2.75
- 7
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Celebrations Classic Collection · 2021 · 44/102
The Celebrations Classic Collection Bulbasaur reprints the original Base Set Bulbasaur artwork in a modern print format as part of Pokémon's 25th anniversary. It is not a substitute for the original 1st Edition or Shadowless, but it gives newer collectors access to the iconic artwork in a widely available and affordable product. The Celebrations branding adds a silver-anniversary identity that pairs naturally with other 25th anniversary Pokémon products. Its value should be judged as a modern tribute rather than a vintage asset. But it is an excellent entry-level Bulbasaur display slab.
Best budget way to display the classic Base Set Bulbasaur artwork. A modern tribute at a very accessible price.
Estimated value: $5.83
- 8
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Aquapolis · 2003 · H1/H32
The Aquapolis Bulbasaur holo is a rare e-Reader era card that gives the character a premium representation in the late WOTC era. Aquapolis had limited distribution compared with earlier WOTC sets, and the holo cards from the set are generally under-represented in graded collections relative to their actual scarcity. The e-Reader dot-code technology gives these cards a distinct visual identity with the characteristic parallel-line holo pattern. For collectors who want Bulbasaur across multiple WOTC eras, the Aquapolis holo provides depth beyond the Base Set variants.
An e-Reader-era Bulbasaur holo. Underrated WOTC period scarcity that rewards collectors who look beyond Base Set.
- 9
Bulbasaur PSA 10
Jungle · 1999 · 33/64
The Jungle Bulbasaur is an early WOTC-era Bulbasaur common that differs from Base Set in artwork and framing. For collectors building a complete Bulbasaur card run across WOTC sets, the Jungle version provides the second-set entry alongside the Base Set foundation. PSA 10 copies of WOTC-era commons are more available than rare-equivalent cards but still require careful examination for print lines and centering. The Jungle set identity adds historical depth for collectors who want Bulbasaur documented across multiple original sets.
The Jungle-era Bulbasaur companion. A supporting piece for collectors building a complete WOTC-era Bulbasaur run.
- 10
Bulbasaur ex PSA 10
EX FireRed LeafGreen · 2004 · 57/112
Bulbasaur ex from EX FireRed and LeafGreen gives the character an EX-era premium designation with a strong Kanto remake connection. The FireRed and LeafGreen set was designed around the original Kanto Pokémon, making this card's presence natural for collectors focused on the original 151. The ex treatment gives Bulbasaur a premium EX-era card that bridges the WOTC vintage period and the modern era. PSA 10 copies require the standard EX-era condition evaluation of the full-foil ex surface. It provides good mid-era coverage in a Bulbasaur collection.
The EX-era Bulbasaur. Kanto remake nostalgia with premium EX designation for mid-era coverage.
Bulbasaur deserves more serious collector attention than it typically receives. As Pokémon number one, every era of the TCG has produced notable Bulbasaur cards, and the modern special illustration rares in recent sets have been among the hobby's most beautiful Grass-type artwork. The Base Set 1st Edition common is rarer in PSA 10 than many assume, and modern premium cards offer liquid entry points for contemporary collectors. As always, track exact variant and grade before comparing prices.
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