How a Wisconsin Shop Owner Uncovered 97 Pristine Super Mario Cartridges
A routine call from a pop-culture store owner led veteran Nintendo collector Jason Ganos to what he calls the “Holy Grail” of retro gaming: 97 absolutely flawless copies of Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt for the NES, manufactured years after the standard pack was discontinued. The cartridges, found in a storage unit in Waukesha, Wisconsin, had been bought from a customer whose family thought they were junk.
Ganos, who runs the Nintendo Wire news service, flew them to California for grading by Professional Sports Authenticator. The result stunned the collecting world: several copies earned a perfect 10—the first-ever perfect grade for an NES cartridge on that service’s scale. Although the exact production reason remains a mystery (likely warranty replacements or an unrealized retail bundle), the late 1993 manufacture date adds to the rarity.
Three of the perfect copies will be sold in an online auction hosted by Golden Pop Culture Auction starting Friday and running until September 9. The other high-grade copies will be kept by Ganos and store owner Kevin Braun, with the remaining cartridges also available to bidders. Experts say truly pristine video game collectibles can sell for six or even seven figures, though no one can predict the final price given the unprecedented condition and story.
Why These Cartridges Could Be the Holy Grail for Nintendo Collectors
Grading Scale and Market Context
In the video game collecting market, condition is everything — and a perfect 10 from PSA is an industry first. Until now, no NES game had ever received that score, making these copies historically important. The combination of a perfect grade and the late production date puts them in a class with the rarest comic books and sports cards, where six-figure sales are not uncommon.
What Makes These Cartridges Special
Unlike most finds of old games, these were untouched, never circulated. The pack of Super Mario Brothers/Duck Hunt was discontinued in 1991, so finding sealed copies made two years later raises intriguing questions about how they were preserved. For collectors, that backstory adds a premium beyond mere condition.
Realistic Value and Auction Dynamics
Ganos himself says he can’t guess the final hammer price because there are no comparable sales. While some sealed games have topped $1 million, those were single copies with clear provenance. The staggered sale of three perfect copies may test how many deep-pocketed collectors are willing to bid at once, potentially depressing individual prices if supply outruns demand. On the other hand, the publicity could draw new buyers into the niche, driving the total take higher.
Comments 0