Record-Breaking Sale: Sealed Copy of Super Mario Bros. for NES Fetches $3 Million at Heritage Auctions
A sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. for the NES recently set a new record by selling for $3 million USD at Heritage Auctions. This sale exceeded the previous record of $2 million USD set in a private sale in 2021. The auction took place during the first session of Heritage’s Video Games Signature Auction in Dallas, Texas.
The significance of this copy lies in its unique features. It bears the gloss sticker that Nintendo introduced in early 1986, making it the earliest confirmed sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. from the second production run. This variant has never been seen in a public auction in sealed condition before. The copy is graded PSA 9.6 A++, which is the highest grade among the three known sealed copies from this run.
The provenance of the copy adds to its value. It was discovered inside a brand-new, unopened Control Deck NES console bundle, where it had been untouched for nearly 40 years. This discovery sets it apart from loose cartridges in collections, as it suggests that the console was purchased, stored, and never opened, keeping the game in factory-fresh condition.
Evan Masingill, Heritage’s Consignment Director for Video Games, commented on the significance of the sale, noting the remarkable backstory of the discovery. The fact that the game was found inside a brand-new console bundle after almost four decades adds to its allure. Super Mario Bros. played a crucial role in Nintendo's success in the 1980s, revitalizing the video game industry after the 1983 market crash.
The $3 million USD sale of the sealed Super Mario Bros. copy at Heritage Auctions marks a historic moment in the video game collecting hobby. The combination of rarity, variant significance, and exceptional condition grade contributed to this record-breaking price. The cultural and historical importance of Super Mario Bros. as a collectible object further enhances its value in the eyes of collectors and enthusiasts alike.