Pokémon TCG: Fossil (Japanese: 化石の秘密Mystery of the Fossils) is the name given to the third main expansion of cards of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The set continues to feature Generation I Pokémon in the card game.
Two million years ago, the first known Pokémon™® walked the earth. Scientists thought many were extinct like the dinosaurs because only fossils had been around—until now. A remote island has been discovered in the south seas, an island where the Pokémon fossils have come to life!
Dig in to the Fossil expansion and you'll find 47 new Pokémon cards for the official Pokémon trading card game. Trade with your friends, show off your favorites, build your own personalized decks, and most of all— play your friends in battle. Collect and play all the Fossil cards and you'll discover holographic cards with super attacks!
Information
Fossil is the name given to the third main expansion of the Pokémon TCG. In Japan, it was released as Mystery of the Fossils. It is based on Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green, featuring Generation I Pokémon and Fossil Pokémon. The English expansion was released on October 10, 1999, while the Japanese expansion was released on June 21, 1997. It was originally planned to be released in the United States around January 2000 (based on initial Jungle estimates). However, since Jungle was released earlier, Fossil was pushed forward as well.
The English release was expanded again to make the sets larger by including Holo and Non Holo prints of cards with Rare rarity. However, Mew from the Japanese equivalent was removed and would later be released as both a Holo and Non Holo Black Star Promos. In the Australian release, the Unlimited edition used red lettering for the word "Pokémon" instead of yellow on the Booster Box, Booster Packs and Theme Decks. This was intended to prevent counterfeiting. Additionally, all the Non Holo cards (including Rare cards) came with a 1999-2000 copyright at the bottom of the card; the standard 1999 copyright for packs with red lettering.
Fossil was the last expansion to use the Galaxy Star Holofoil, as it was changed to Cosmos Holofoil in the following expansion. There appears to be some error printings of Unlimited Fossil Holos with the Cosmos Holofoil with a 1999 copyright (including Zapdos).
