Zubat - Team Rocket (1st Edition) [70/82]

Name: Zubat - Team Rocket (1st Edition) [70/82]
Brand: The Collector
Availability: LimitedAvailability

PSA 9 graded 1st Edition Zubat Pokémon card from the 2000 Team Rocket set. - view 1

1/3

Estimated value

$18 - $35

Rarity

Average(4/10)

COLLECTOR'S BREAKDOWN: ZUBAT - TEAM ROCKET (1ST EDITION) [70/82]

A 1st Edition Zubat from the 2000 Team Rocket expansion, preserved in a professional PSA grading slab. The artwork by Mitsuhiro Arita depicts the Poison/Flying-type against a haunting nocturnal backdrop featuring a crescent moon and gnarled trees, perfectly capturing the 'dark' aesthetic of the Team Rocket set. This common card features the iconic 1st Edition stamp on the left and the stylized 'R' logo on the right side of the art box.

CULTURAL CARD LORE

Where This Object Echoes

Japanese FolkloreEdo Period

Zubat's design is heavily influenced by the 'Nobusuma', a bat-like yōkai traditionally associated with dark forests and caves.

Ritual & Ceremonial Use

•Nocturnal exploration and cave-dwelling narratives in early handheld gaming culture

Meaning Through Time

2000

Part of a playable game deck representing the antagonist faction.

2020s

A nostalgic artifact and liquid asset in the vintage trading card market.

CARD HISTORY & PRINT RUNS

Released in April 2000 by Wizards of the Coast, Team Rocket was the first Pokémon TCG expansion to introduce the concept of 'Dark Pokémon'—corrupted versions of monsters trained by the villainous syndicate. This card, illustrated by the legendary Mitsuhiro Arita (known for the Base Set Charizard), ...

COLLECTOR INTEL

This was the first set to include a 'secret rare' card (Dark Raichu 83/82) in the English release.

Mitsuhiro Arita intentionally used a darker color palette for these illustrations to align with the Team Rocket narrative of Pokémon corruption.

HOW SCARCE IS IT?

Average55-70%

CommonLegendary

Typical antique shop fare. Requires some searching but regularly available. This is where most genuine antiques fall.

Typical Characteristics

Standard antique shop items
Regularly available
Moderate collector interest

Confidence Factors

Encapsulated in a modern PSA slab with verifiable certification number 101511407
Card printing details and 1st Edition stamp alignment match known authentic examples

How does authenticity detection work?

GRADING EXPERT'S TAKE

Trading Card Market Analyst

Card Specialist

High confidence due to the presence of a professional third-party grading slab and clear high-resolution images of both the card and the authentication label.

KEY EVIDENCE

1PSA Cert #101511407 is verifiable in the public database
21st Edition stamp ink density is consistent with WotC standards
3Back of card shows the appropriate 'lighter blue' shade associated with legitimate US printings
4Set symbol 'R' and card number 70/82 correctly identify the Team Rocket expansion

WHAT WOULD IMPROVE CERTAINTY

→Check the slab for the 'PSA' lighthouse frosted logo to confirm slab authenticity
→Verify the certification number directly on the PSA website for peace of mind

CONDITION & GRADE

PSA 9

Grading breakdown

The PSA label explicitly confirms a grade of 9 (Mint). Highly clean edges and surface, with traditional vintage centering typical of the Wizards of the Coast era.

Condition

Professionally graded PSA 9 (Mint). Exceptional eye appeal with only a minor top-to-bottom centering bias on the front.

Surface

Non-holo surface with matte print finish; the slab adds a protective high-gloss crystalline layer.

Weight & feel

The graded slab provides a substantial, rigid feel compared to the flexible weight of a raw card.

TRADING CARD MARKET VALUE

$18 - $35

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Who buys this

Compulsive set-builders looking to complete 1st Edition Team Rocket sets in high grade.

What increases value

•1st Edition stamp vs unlimited version
•PSA 9 Mint status provides a significant premium over raw ('loose') cards
•Iconic Arita artwork

What lowers value

•Crossover appeal for Zubat is lower than for 'Heavy Hitters' like Dark Charizard
•Prices for 'common' cards are highly sensitive to grading population levels

What makes top-tier examples

•Perfect 50/50 centering
•Sequential cert numbers with other cards in the set
•PSA 10 Gem Mint status (doubles/triples the value of a 9)

Grade & condition

Centering (front/back), corner whitening, and surface micro-scratches.

Rarity & demand

AverageModerate demandSells quickly

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For informational purposes only, not a formal appraisal.

YOUR INPUT VS. SCANNER FINDINGS

How your provided context compares with Curiosa.com scanner findings.

What Aligned

User stated '2000' era - verified by copyright '1999-2000' and set release history
User stated 'Mint' condition - verified by visible PSA 9 label
User stated 'Authentic' - verified by PSA encapsulation and slab security features