The original Pokémon Trading Card Game Base Set was released in the United States on January 9, 1999.
The set had already launched in Japan on October 20, 1996, as the 1st Starter & Expansion Pack. The English release came later, after the Pokémon video games and animated series had built a large audience in North America.
Wizards of the Coast produced the English cards under license. The American Base Set contained 102 cards and included famous cards such as Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur, alongside Energy and Trainer cards.
The Japanese and English releases are often discussed together, but their dates and publishing arrangements were different. The American Base Set also had multiple printings, including First Edition and later Unlimited versions, which are now important distinctions for collectors.