Vending Machine cards (TCG)
The Vending Machine (拡張シート lit. Extended Sheet) cards are a series of special collections for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. They were released in Japan only as a side expansion to the game and have never received an English release.
Unlike regular expansions, where a player would receive 11 cards from a booster pack, these cards were only obtainable by getting a randomized sheet from a vending machine from which the cards were peeled. It is due to this that the fan name Vending Machine Series was coined by collectors, and should not be considered the proper name for the set.
Series 1 (Blue Sheet) and 2 (Red Sheet) featured twelve sheets with three cards per-sheet along with cardboard damage counters and coins. Series 3 (Green) featured eighteen sheets with three cards plus one special card which had a non-standard back, most of which were gag-cards or special Pass Cards.
To this day it is very hard to find full sets of these cards still attached to the sheets.
The symbol for the Vending Machine Cards is an upside-down Poké Ball and is used for quite a number of Japanese promos asides from the Vending series.
Set Size
- 36 cards in Series 1
- 36 cards in Series 2
- 52 cards in Series 3
Release Dates
- March 23, 1998 - Series 1
- June 17, 1998 - Series 2
- November 24 1998 - Series 3
Series 1 (Blue Sheet)
| No. | Card Name | Type | Level | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Bulbasaur |  |
15 | 
|
| -- | Caterpie | |
15 | 
|
| -- | Metapod | |
20 |
|
| -- | Weedle | |
15 |
|
| -- | Kakuna | |
20 |
|
| -- | Nidoran♀ | |
12 |
|
| -- | Nidoran♂ | |
22 |
|
| -- | Zubat | |
12 |
|
| -- | Golbat | |
25 |
|
| -- | Paras | |
15 |
|
| -- | Parasect | |
29 |
|
| -- | Pinsir | |
15 |
|
| -- | Charmander |  |
10 |
|
| -- | Rapidash | |
30 |
|
| -- | Squirtle |  |
15 |
|
| -- | Poliwag | |
15 |
|
| -- | Poliwhirl | |
30 |
|
| -- | Poliwrath | |
40 |
|
| -- | Pikachu |  |
5 |
|
| -- | Abra |  |
8 |
|
| -- | Mr. Mime | |
20 |
|
| -- | Mewtwo | |
54 |
|
| -- | Geodude |  |
15 |
|
| -- | Pidgey |  |
10 |
|
| -- | Rattata | |
15 |
|
| -- | Clefairy | |
15 |
|
| -- | Wigglytuff | |
40 |
|
| -- | Doduo | |
10 |
|
| -- | Dodrio | |
25 |
|
| -- | Lickitung | |
20 |
|
| -- | Chansey | |
40 |
|
| -- | Eevee | |
5 |
|
| -- | Porygon | |
18 |
|
| -- | Snorlax | |
35 |
|
| -- | Moon Stone | T | - | -- |
| -- | Fossil Excavation | T | - | -- |
Series 2 (Red Sheet)
| No. | Card Name | Type | Level | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Venomoth | |
22 |
|
| -- | Grimer | |
15 |
|
| -- | Koffing | |
16 |
|
| -- | Tangela | |
15 |
|
| -- | Moltres | |
37 |
|
| -- | Seel | |
10 |
|
| -- | Dewgong | |
24 |
|
| -- | Shellder | |
16 |
|
| -- | Krabby | |
17 |
|
| -- | Lapras | |
24 |
|
| -- | Omanyte | |
20 |
|
| -- | Articuno | |
34 |
|
| -- | Raichu | |
32 |
|
| -- | Magnemite | |
15 |
|
| -- | Magneton | |
30 |
|
| -- | Voltorb | |
8 |
|
| -- | Electabuzz | |
22 |
|
| -- | Zapdos | |
28 |
|
| -- | Jynx | |
18 |
|
| -- | Sandshrew | |
15 |
|
| -- | Machop | |
18 |
|
| -- | Machoke | |
28 |
|
| -- | Graveler | |
28 |
|
| -- | Onix | |
25 |
|
| -- | Marowak | |
25 |
|
| -- | Hitmonlee | |
23 |
|
| -- | Hitmonchan | |
23 |
|
| -- | Kabuto | |
22 |
|
| -- | Aerodactyl | |
30 |
|
| -- | Spearow | |
12 |
|
| -- | Fearow | |
24 |
|
| -- | Ditto | |
15 |
|
| -- | Flash | T | - |
|
| -- | Master Ball | T | - |
|
| -- | Max Revive | T | - |
|
| -- | Effect Guard | T | - |
|
Series 3 (Green Sheet)
World Hobby Fair 1998 Special Sheet
| No. | Card Name | Type | Level | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Pikachu | |
13 | 
|
| -- | Mewtwo | |
30 |
|
| -- | Mew | |
25 |
|
Masaki Evolution Campaign cards
| No. | Card Name | Type | Level | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| -- | Omastar | |
36 | H
|
| -- | Alakazam | |
45 | H
|
| -- | Gengar | |
40 | H
|
| -- | Machamp | |
54 | H
|
| -- | Golem | |
37 | H
|
Trivia
- The cards are printed on glossy card stock, unlike the regular matte card stock. Glossy card stock became quite popular through the time of 1998 until about 2001 for promos from magazines such as CoroCoro.
- The front of the sheets have step-by-step guides on how to play the game and advertisements for other Expansion sets.
- While this was a novel idea in Japan, it was not introduced in America or European countries, likely because it would have been too expensive to produce/maintain and was not suited for the market. While some of these cards did make English appearances (as Promotional cards), many still remain exclusive to Japan.
- People began to notice that some Pokémon did not have complete evolution chains over the three sets – this mystery was soon revealed. In April 1999 a "Masaki Evolution" Campaign was launched, inspired by the idea that in order for certain Pokémon to evolve in the games, they have to be traded. In order to acquire the fully evolved versions of Kadabra, Machoke, Graveler, Haunter and Omanyte, people had to send one of these cards along with the Pass Card Bill's PC to MediaFactory. In return they received the evolved version of the card they sent. Not many of these cards actually made it to collector's hands, and one can still expect to pay $100+ for them. Omanyte was the only Pokémon that didn't need to be traded in the actual games. These five cards are the only holo cards of the entire vending series that have rarity symbols. While these cards could be considered their own set, like the other cards, they are instead officially listed on the 1999 promotional card list in Japan.
- The character art for some of the cards in the Vending Machine series' were winners from an illustration competition started by CoroCoro Magazine in late 1997. Those winners were not only awarded by having their art feature on real Pokémon cards, they also received the coveted Pokémon Illustrator card.
- A special sheet of cards (dubbed "Series 00" by fans to follow trend of the other sets) was released at the World Hobby Fair in 1998, featuring Pikachu, Mewtwo and Mew. The cards are officially listed on the 1998 promotional card list in Japan.