Mew · Expedition Base Set, what to know.
About the Mew card
Mew is card 19 of 165 in Expedition Base Set, released in September 2002, a Rare Holo. It is a Basic Psychic-type with 50 HP.
As a Basic Pokémon, Mew needs no prior evolution to put into play, which made it a practical card in the era's decks.
Illustrated by Hajime Kusajima.
About Mew in the Pokémon world
The original Mythical Pokémon. Famous for the "Mew under the truck" rumor in 1998. Only legitimately obtainable through Nintendo events at launch. No Mew in Wizards-era sets until the famous Southern Islands promo. Its rarity in pre-Internet Pokémon collecting drives lasting cult interest.
What is Mew worth?
Mew is a holo rare, one of the cards that holds Expedition Base Set's value. The print variant decides most of it: a 1st Edition copy in high grade commands a large premium over a Shadowless or Unlimited one. In top-grade 1st Edition, Expedition Base Set holos range from the mid hundreds for the lesser cards up to the set's marquee chase; raw and Unlimited copies trade for a fraction of that. The live market price above shows the current figure by grade.
Print variants and how to spot them
Confirm the print and finish on Mew before pricing it, since variant and rarity set the market more than the card name alone.
Grading and condition
Expect the holo window to set the grade on Mew. Print misregistration and fine scratches in the psychic foil are the usual reasons a copy lands at a 9, and edge whitening against the frame is the next thing a grader notes.
If you are collecting Mew
If you are buying Mew, work in order: confirm the print variant first, then the grade, then price against recent sales for that exact variant and grade. For a raw Mew above a few hundred dollars, insist on angled-light photos of the holo so you can spot hairlines.
