An Unexpected Discovery

In a remarkable find for the gaming community, Kevin Braun, the owner of the Wisconsin-based retro store OneStopWonders, stumbled upon a hidden treasure in his own storage room. Tucked away for years were 97 sealed Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) cartridges, specifically rare versions of Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros. These games, which were staples of the original console's library, remain in their original factory packaging, untouched for decades.


The Origin Story

The history of how these cartridges ended up in the shop is as unique as the games themselves. According to the original seller, the collection was acquired by his grandfather, who ran a business focused on extracting precious metals from circuit boards. The box was initially intended to be salvaged for parts. Braun, who purchased the lot years ago with the intention of selling them for a modest profit, had largely forgotten about them until recently.


Expert Verification and High Grades

The significance of the find became clear when Jason Ganos, editor-in-chief of Nintendo Wire, inspected the collection. Further investigation revealed that these were production units from the 40th week of 1993, featuring unique, previously undocumented instruction manuals. The subtle distinction in the manual's text—using the phrase «maintenance or service» instead of the common «maintenance or repair»—confirmed they were a distinct manufacturing run.

Upon verification by the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) in California, the condition of the cartridges was deemed exceptional:

  • Five units received a perfect score of 10.
  • The remainder of the collection was graded at a minimum of 9.6.

Mystery and Auction Potential

Experts speculate that these units may have been intended for warranty replacements, refurbished console bundles, or perhaps a distribution line that was ultimately scrapped by Nintendo of America. Without official confirmation from the manufacturer, their exact purpose remains a mystery.

For collectors eager to own a piece of gaming history, an opportunity is approaching. Starting August 12, select cartridges will be available through Goldin Auctions. While the exact final price is difficult to predict, industry analysts suggest that the perfect 10-rated units could potentially fetch five-figure sums, given the historical significance and pristine state of these rare NES items.