Fossil
Set Details
CAN YOU DIG UP ALL THE FOSSIL™ CARDS?
Two million years ago, the first known Pokémon™® walked the earth. Scientists thought many were extinct like the dinosaurs because only fossils had been found—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!
The Fossil Pokémon Set, officially known in Japan as Mystery of the Fossils (Japanese: 化石の秘密), stands proudly as the third main expansion of the original Pokémon Trading Card Game series. Released in English on October 10, 1999, and earlier in Japan on June 21, 1997, this iconic set continued the tradition of showcasing beloved Generation I Pokémon, but with an exciting twist: it brought the prehistoric wonders known as Fossil Pokémon directly into gameplay. Fans and collectors immediately embraced this distinctive thematic approach, making it an unforgettable part of Pokémon TCG history.
One distinctive feature that makes the Fossil Pokémon Set so captivating to collectors is its position as the final expansion to use the cherished Starlight Holofoil pattern. Later reprints of these cards, notably within the Base Set 2 release, shifted to a Cosmos Holofoil design, though some rare Cosmos holographic cards from Fossil itself have been spotted. Additionally, the Australian Unlimited print run added an extra layer of uniqueness with its distinct red-lettered “Pokémon” branding on booster packs and theme decks—a deliberate step taken by the publishers to combat counterfeiting and boost authenticity.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Fossil Pokémon Set has some intriguing card production quirks that have fascinated collectors worldwide. For example, the non-holographic cards from Australia’s exclusive red-logo packs feature a distinctive 1999-2000 copyright stamp and were printed on a different cardstock compared to their holographic counterparts. In contrast, the holographic versions retained the original 1999 copyright, creating an unusual duality within the set itself. These subtle yet fascinating variations, coupled with the set’s memorable Pokémon like Aerodactyl, Dragonite, and legendary birds Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, continue to spark excitement and nostalgia among Pokémon enthusiasts and card collectors alike.
Fossil Set Cards
