Discovery of Rare Super Mario Cartridges Sparks Auction Buzz

In Wisconsin, a pop culture store owner once mentioned to Jason Ganos, a recognized Nintendo game collector, that he had a box of Super Mario cartridges tucked away in storage. This unexpected revelation was significant for Ganos. The box contained an extraordinary collection of 97 pristine copies of Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt, a beloved Nintendo game from 1988.

These cartridges were not only new variants of the game but also represented the last known production date. Ganos plans to auction most of these cartridges online until September 9.

“I still don’t quite believe that any of this is happening,” Ganos shared about the discovery. The serendipitous find astonished him. “They’re like the Holy Grail,” he added about the cartridges’ pristine condition.

Known for his dedication to Nintendo, Ganos has run Nintendo Wire, a news platform for over 10 years. He did not speculate on the potential value of the games. However, the moment he saw the box, he realized its significance.

The store owner, Kevin Braun, located in Waukesha near Milwaukee, asked Ganos to assist in selling items including Nintendo games and Pokémon cards. Braun mentioned the box of Mario cartridges, which he acquired from a customer whose family initially kept them for scrap metal, not realizing their value.

The Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt cartridges were manufactured in 1993, well after the game bundle was discontinued in 1991. Braun and Ganos speculate the copies were either warranty replacements or part of a failed retail bundle.

Upon understanding the collection’s importance, Ganos promptly flew to California with the cartridges for verification and grading by experts. Navigating airport security with 97 small circuit boards was tense but crucial for validation.

Professional Sports Authenticator rated five of these 97 cartridges with a perfect score of 10, a rare distinction.

“I think there’s going to be historic significance to the tens,” Ganos remarked, emphasizing the nostalgia and unique place in gaming history these perfect ratings hold.

Rare video game cartridges with unique production backgrounds can command significant prices. Such collectibles, like comics or sports cards, demand high valuations if preserved in perfect condition. Ganos hesitates to estimate their ultimate value, noting they might fetch anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands at auction.

Three of the perfect 10 cartridges will be auctioned at Golden Pop’s Culture Auction. Ganos and Braun reserve one perfect cartridge each and a few with high scores in the 9 range. These games remain playable but ideally should stay in their pristine state.

Ganos expressed excitement over uncirculated discoveries, reminiscing, “This game was the first video game I’ve ever played. Mario Duck Hunt was such a big part of my life growing up.”

After the current auction concludes, Ganos and Braun plan to hold a charity auction.