A collection of exceptionally rare Nintendo Super Mario game cartridges, discovered in a Wisconsin store, is scheduled for auction beginning Friday. The cartridges, identified as Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt, were found in a box of items belonging to Kevin Braun, owner of One Stop Wonders in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Jason Ganos, a prominent Nintendo collector, was asked by Braun to help sell some of his inventory. Braun mentioned a box of Mario cartridges that had been in storage for years, which he had acquired from a customer who intended to use them for scrap metal. Ganos, recognizing their potential significance, traveled to California to have the cartridges verified and graded by video game experts.
Initial research indicated that the discovered cartridges represented a new variant of the game and possibly the last known production run. While the Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt bundle was officially discontinued in 1991, the cartridges Ganos possesses were made in 1993. Braun and Ganos theorize these might have been warranty replacements or part of an unfulfilled retail bundle.
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) graded the cartridges, with five out of the 97 copies achieving a perfect score of 10. This marks the first time an Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cartridge has received a perfect grade from PSA. Ganos noted that cartridges in perfect condition, similar to rare comic books or sports cards, can command high prices in the collector's market.
While the exact worth of these cartridges remains undetermined due to their unique nature, ultra-rare video games with distinctive production histories can sell for six to seven figures. Ganos and Braun will be auctioning three of the perfect-score cartridges through Golden Pop's Culture Auction, which runs until September 9. They will retain one copy each with a grade of 10, along with several cartridges rated in the high 9s.
Although the games are playable, Ganos expressed a desire for the pristine cartridges to be preserved in their current condition. He described finding uncirculated items as "super exciting," particularly this game, which held personal significance as his first video game experience.
Following the initial auction, Braun and Ganos plan to conduct a charity auction with some of the discovered cartridges.