Printing Plate
Printing plate (noun): the actual metal plate used to print a card on the press, inserted into packs as a collectible. Each card has four plates — cyan, magenta, yellow, and black — and every plate is a true one-of-one.
Printing Plates in More Detail
Plates show the card image in a single ink color, often mirrored, and are stamped 1/1. Because there are four plates per card, a player's card technically has four one-of-ones in plate form — distinct from the product's "true" 1/1 parallel like a Superfractor.
Plates appeal to collectors who want a guaranteed unique piece of a card's production history at a lower price than premium 1/1 parallels.
FAQ
Are printing plates really 1/1?
Yes — each individual plate is unique. But remember there are four plates (C, M, Y, K) per card, so "the only one" applies per color, not per card.
Are printing plates valuable?
They're worth less than premium 1/1 parallels of the same player but carry a real uniqueness premium — value depends heavily on the player and product.
Related Resources
- Glossary: Parallel Card · Refractor Card
- Shop: Numbered Cards