>>47147091First edition cards are a totally arbitrary variant that exist solely to boost early product sales. First edition plays on the fears of the most autistic of collectors and on the desires of investors to make profit.
Nothing is inherently special about a first edition card; the designation signifies nothing substantial (it was printed before a certain date, yeehaw), but it is indeed another edition, so someone autistic enough is going to care. That indicates profit to investors, and essentially guarantees the publisher will sell a large amount of product to one demographic or the other. What's even better is that all that is necessary for a first edition card to generate appeal is having that tiny little stamp. It doesn't have to be holographic or have a different color or design, just a few spots of ink. It makes good economic sense for first editions to exist, but they are definitely predatory of the most committed fans, since by their nature, they are scarce and prone to scalping.
