Pokémon Starter Gift Box (1999): Price Guide, Contents & Collector’s Guide

Last Updated: August 2026

The Pokémon Trading Card Game Starter Gift Box is one of the most iconic sealed products released during the Wizards of the Coast era. Introduced in 1999, it combined several Pokémon TCG products into one premium package, making it an ideal starting point for new players while also becoming one of today’s most desirable vintage sealed collectibles.

Unlike ordinary starter products, the Starter Gift Box included multiple sealed items from the early Pokémon TCG, allowing players to begin battling immediately while also opening one of the game’s first expansion sets. More than 25 years later, unopened examples have become increasingly scarce and are now highly sought after by collectors around the world.

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Why Is the Starter Gift Box So Expensive?

Although the Starter Gift Box was originally sold as an affordable introduction to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, it has become one of the most collectible sealed products from the Wizards of the Coast era.

One major reason is survival rate. Most buyers purchased the box to play the game rather than preserve it. As a result, the overwhelming majority were opened shortly after purchase, leaving relatively few factory-sealed examples today.

Another factor is its contents. Rather than including a single product, the Starter Gift Box combines several vintage Pokémon items into one package. As each individual component has increased in value over the past two decades, sealed boxes have become even more desirable.

Collectors also appreciate the product as a complete snapshot of the Pokémon TCG during its explosive growth in North America. Few sealed products capture the early Wizards of the Coast era as effectively as the Starter Gift Box.

History

The Starter Gift Box was released in 1999 during the first year of the English Pokémon Trading Card Game. Wizards of the Coast designed the product as a premium gift set that introduced new players to Pokémon while providing additional expansion products for immediate play.

Unlike the standard Base Set 2-Player Starter Set, the Starter Gift Box offered significantly more value by combining several sealed products into one retail package.

As Pokémon popularity exploded throughout 1999, many retailers quickly sold out of the Starter Gift Box. Because the product was intended to be opened immediately, sealed examples have become increasingly difficult to locate today.

What’s Included in the Starter Gift Box?

The Starter Gift Box includes everything needed for two players to begin playing immediately while also experiencing one of Pokémon’s earliest expansion sets.

Item	Description
Base Set 2-Player Starter Set	Complete decks for two players.
Jungle Theme Deck	One random deck: Power Reserve or Water Blast.
Jungle Booster Pack	One sealed Jungle booster pack.
Fold-out Playmat	Game instructions and deck-building guide.
Exclusive Eevee Coin	Metallic Eevee coin available only in this product.

Because every major component has become collectible on its own, many collectors consider the Starter Gift Box one of the best-value sealed Pokémon products ever released.

English Starter Gift Box vs. Japanese Quick Starter Gift

The English Starter Gift Box is frequently confused with Japan’s Quick Starter Gift. Despite the similar names, they are completely different products created for different markets.

English Starter Gift Box	Japanese Quick Starter Gift
Released in 1999	Released in 1998
Wizards of the Coast	Media Factory
English language	Japanese language
Includes multiple sealed products	Includes two ready-to-play decks
Exclusive Eevee coin	Exclusive Lucky Coin
Contains Jungle products	Expansion Sheet reprints

Collectors often own both because each represents an important milestone in Pokémon TCG history, but they should not be confused with one another.

Price Guide

The prices below represent approximate market values based on recent sales of sealed products. Individual component prices can fluctuate depending on condition, factory seal quality, and overall market demand.

Item	Estimated Value (USD)
Base Set 2-Player Starter Set	Approximately $250
Jungle Theme Deck	Approximately $270
Jungle Booster Pack	Approximately $230
Exclusive Eevee Coin	Approximately $10
Sealed Starter Gift Box	Approximately $850

Should You Open a Sealed Starter Gift Box?

For most collectors, the answer is no.

Although opening the box provides an authentic late-1990s Pokémon TCG experience, sealed Starter Gift Boxes have become collectible artifacts themselves. Most collectors now place a higher value on an untouched factory-sealed example than on the individual products inside.

If your goal is simply to enjoy the contents, purchasing the individual components separately is often less expensive than opening a complete gift box.

Where to Buy the Starter Gift Box

Finding a sealed Starter Gift Box has become increasingly difficult. Most surviving examples are held in long-term collections, with only occasional listings appearing on major auction sites.

Collectors who cannot locate a sealed gift box often purchase the included products individually. However, complete sealed examples continue to command a significant premium because of their rarity and historical importance.

Investment Potential

The Starter Gift Box has become one of the flagship sealed Pokémon products from the Wizards of the Coast era. Unlike booster boxes, it represents an entire beginner experience packaged into one collectible product.

Its value is supported by several independent factors:

• One of the earliest premium Pokémon TCG gift products.
• Contains multiple sealed vintage Pokémon items.
• Exclusive Eevee coin.
• Strong nostalgia among WOTC collectors.
• Very limited number of factory-sealed examples remaining.

Because each component has appreciated significantly over time, many collectors believe the Starter Gift Box will remain one of the most desirable sealed products from Pokémon’s early English era.

Collector’s Checklist

• Original factory shrink wrap.
• No tears or resealing.
• Sharp box corners.
• Minimal shelf wear.
• No crushing or water damage.
• Original Wizards of the Coast logos.

Key Takeaways

• Released by Wizards of the Coast in 1999.
• Includes several sealed Pokémon products in one package.
• Different from Japan’s Quick Starter Gift.
• Factory-sealed examples are becoming increasingly scarce.
• One of the most collectible WOTC-era sealed Pokémon products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pokémon Starter Gift Box?

It is a premium Pokémon Trading Card Game gift set released by Wizards of the Coast in 1999 that combines several sealed Pokémon products into one package.

Why is the Starter Gift Box so expensive?

Most boxes were opened shortly after purchase, leaving very few factory-sealed examples. Growing demand from vintage sealed collectors has continued to increase prices.

Is there a Japanese version?

Japan released the Quick Starter Gift in 1998, but it is a completely different product with different contents and should not be confused with the English Starter Gift Box.

Which theme deck is included?

Each box originally contained either Power Reserve or Water Blast, making unopened boxes even more exciting for collectors.

Should I open a sealed Starter Gift Box?

Most collectors recommend preserving sealed examples because they command significantly higher values than opened boxes.

Related Guides

• Japanese Quick Starter Gift Guide
• Jungle Booster Pack Guide
• Most Valuable Vintage Pokémon Cards

Final Thoughts

The Pokémon Starter Gift Box perfectly captures the excitement surrounding the launch of the English Pokémon Trading Card Game. Although it was designed as a beginner product, it has evolved into one of the hobby’s most respected sealed collectibles.

Whether you collect sealed Wizards of the Coast products or simply appreciate Pokémon history, the Starter Gift Box remains one of the finest display pieces from the franchise’s earliest years.

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