PSA Officially Changes Their Pokémon Topsun Labels to 1997
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By: Oliver Copeland
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Big news today, as PSA has finally changed their labels to reflect the year Topsun cards were released (1997), and not copyrighted.
They Used To Say 1995
Due to the sparse documentation surrounding the release of Topsun cards, PSA (and other grading companies) recognized the 1995 copyright date as the release date on their Topsun labels.
This is, however, incorrect. Topsun cards were released in 1997.
Top Seika Confectionary Company is a candy company, and the Topsun cards were originally included in a pack of apple-flavored gum. They were simply cheap toys thrown in with chewing gum for kids and didn’t receive the same attention as the Pokémon TCG, for example.
The only date on the cards is the 1995 copyright, so that’s what PSA used.
Over the past decade, collectors have been debating the age of Topsun cards, due to PSA’s label claiming 1995, but no evidence that the cards actually released before ’97.
Why This Is A Big Deal
Unless you’re new to trading cards, you’ll already know that there is a huge premium for ‘rookie’ cards. And collectors want the original Pokémon cards.
Many investors and high-end collectors have chased after the Topsun cards, influenced by PSA’s 1995 label. The Topsun Charizard has sold for 5 or sometimes 6 figures.
But Topsun cards were never the first-ever Pokémon cards.
That title now belongs to the 1996 Bandai CARDDASS cards. You can read all about them in this CARDDASS article I wrote.
’96 Bandai CARDDASS Cards
Bandai is a toy company founded in Japan, and their first Pokémon cards were released in September 1996, about a month before the official TCG was released. Bandai CARDDASS cards predate even the Japanese Base Set.
These cards are severely undervalued and this label change by PSA will change that.
Thank You Max
While this whole ordeal has been irritating for the community, one member stepped up and pushed for the change.
MaxMaxCity contacted the big grading services and managed to get the ball rolling on this historical moment.
Stay tuned for an upcoming podcast episode where I interview Max on my YouTube channel.
2 thoughts on “PSA Officially Changes Their Pokémon Topsun Labels to 1997”
Saying there was no evidence over the past decade is a lie.
The evidence has been around for about 4 years and Max didn’t collect or disclose it.
Max is one of many whom contacted PSA and other grading companies with the information.
The initial discovery of the correct year was by shizzlemetimbers on efour.
I have always credited shizzlemetimbers at the end of my Topsun article!
https://sleevenocardbehind.com/a-guide-to-topsun-pokemon-cards/