Rare Nintendo Mario Cartridges Found in Wisconsin Storage

A Wisconsin store owner's forgotten box of vintage video games has yielded an extraordinary discovery: 97 copies of "Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt," an iconic Nintendo title. The find, unearthed by well-known Nintendo collector Jason Ganos, is significant not only for the sheer quantity but also because these cartridges represent a later production run, potentially the last ever made for the game, which was officially discontinued years prior. Most of these pristine cartridges are slated for an online auction set to begin Friday and conclude on September 9.

Ganos, who has dedicated over a decade to chronicling Nintendo news and nostalgia through his service Nintendo Wire, described the find as serendipitous and still somewhat unbelievable. He recalled the moment store owner Kevin Braun of One Stop Wonders in Waukesha, near Milwaukee, mentioned the dusty box. Braun had acquired the cartridges years ago from a customer whose family was selling them for scrap metal, unaware of their collector's value. Ganos immediately recognized the special nature of the find upon seeing the box.

The specific cartridges in question, dated 1993, were manufactured long after Nintendo officially ceased production of the "Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt" bundle around 1991. This discrepancy has led Ganos and Braun to speculate that the copies might have been intended as warranty replacements or perhaps part of an unfulfilled retail bundle. "It's like pulling out like a Holy Grail," Ganos remarked, also noting the cartridges' exceptional condition. "They're gorgeous."

Unprecedented Grading and Auction Value

To verify their rarity and condition, Ganos transported 97 cartridges in his carry-on luggage to California, enduring a tense TSA screening. There, the items were professionally graded by experts at Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA). Remarkably, five of the 97 cartridges achieved a perfect score of 10, a feat unprecedented for an NES cartridge. "I think there’s going to be historic significance to the 10s," Ganos stated, emphasizing the potential historical importance of these flawless items, especially given the game's deep connection to many people's childhoods.

The collector's market for ultrarare video games, particularly those with unique production histories and in pristine condition, can command prices ranging from six to seven figures. The condition of these specific "Super Mario Brothers Duck Hunt" cartridges, comparable to rare comic books or sports cards, further elevates their potential value. Ganos, however, admitted that estimating their precise worth is challenging due to their unparalleled nature in the collectibles market. They could fetch hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of dollars.

The initial auction, hosted by Golden Pop's Culture Auction, will feature three of the perfect-10 scored cartridges. Ganos and Braun will each retain one perfect-10 copy, with others rated in the high 9s also being kept. While playable, Ganos expressed a hope that the new owners will preserve their immaculate state. "Finding uncirculated stuff for me is just like super exciting," he shared. "This game was the first video game I’ve ever played. 'Mario Duck Hunt' was just such a big part of my life growing up." Plans are also underway for a subsequent charity auction of some of the discovered cartridges.