Gengar · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Gengar card
Gengar sits at #13 in Expedition Base Set, the thirteenth of the Wizards of the Coast print runs. Illustration by Yukiko Baba. In the games, Gengar evolves from Haunter, which makes it a late-stage card in the line.
About Gengar in the Pokémon world
The fully evolved Gastly line via trade. Wide-grinning Ghost-Poison silhouette. One of the most beloved Pokémon designs. Fossil holo Gengar is one of the most-collected Fossil holos. PSA 10 examples have appreciated dramatically over the last three years.
Print variants and how to spot them
Expedition shipped in Standard and Reverse Holo prints. The defining feature is the dot-code strip printed on the bottom of each card, designed to be scanned with the Nintendo e-Reader peripheral for bonus minigames. Functional collector value of the dot codes is minimal today, but they make Expedition cards visually distinct.
Grading and condition
For graded buyers, the holo window is where most grade points are won or lost. Surface scratches and print misregistration on the foil are common, and centering on Wizards-era holos was inconsistent enough that PSA 10s remain genuinely scarce a quarter century later. The PSA 9 to PSA 10 price gap on this kind of card is wide enough that pre-grading inspection under a loupe is well worth the time.
If you are buying this card
If you are buying this card, the order of operations is variant first, then condition. Verify the print variant (1st Edition stamp visible, drop shadow on the right edge if Unlimited) before you negotiate on price. For raw purchases above $500, insist on photo or video showing the holo surface under direct light from a 45-degree angle so you can spot hairlines. The "live market price" on this page tracks recent eBay sales, but the actual transaction price will vary by variant, grade, and how recently a comparable sale closed.
