Sealed NES Super Mario Bros. game sold for record $100,150
This sealed copy of NES Super Mario Bros. sold for a pretty penny – and you can't even play it!
Want to blow your life savings on a video game? You can definitely do that, especially when they can cost $100,150 or more.
That's how much a sticker sealed version of Super Mario Bros. for the original Nintendo Entertainment System sold for after remaining in excellent condition for 34 years. The game is actually part of two variations of sealed copies only available in the New York and Los Angeles test market launch of the NES when it first hit retail. Of all of those copies, this particular one that sold was certified by Wata Games at a Near Mint grade of 9.4 and "Seal Rating" of A++. Put simply, it's an expensive buy, alright.
A group of collectors got together on February 6 to buy the game, including Jim Halperin, Founder and Co-Chairman of Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas; Zac Gieg, owner of Just Press Play Video Games in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and Rich Lecce, renowned coin dealer, pioneering video game collector, and owner of Robert B. Lecce Numismatist Inc of Boca Raton, Florida. Unfortunately, one buyer won't have the pleasure of saying theme is all theirs, but it will instead have "shared custody," it appears.
“Beyond the artistic and historical significance of this game is its supreme state of preservation,” says Kenneth Thrower, co-founder and chief grader of Wata Games. “Not only are all of NES sticker sealed game’ extremely rare, but by their nature of not being sealed in shrink wrap they usually exhibit significant wear after more than 30 years,” Thrower said. “This game may be the condition census of all sticker sealed NES games known to exist.”
So this may be one of the most spectacular copies of Super Mario Bros. you've ever laid eyes on. It's safe to say no one is going to be tearing into it to play on their Nintendo any time soon, but it sure is tempting to look inside and have a peek, I'd wager. What could you do with all that cash, though? Buy a lot of other games. It's still a very, very cool (and valuable)piece of history, though. Hopefully it'll be available for people to look at for preservation's sake.
What are the most valuable games in your collections like? What's one game you'd love to own in pristine condition like this? Let us know in the comments below!
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replyBrittany Vincent posted a new article, Sealed NES Super Mario Bros. game sold for record $100,150
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Mint grade 9.4? Not even 10?
