Full Breakdown
Ultra-Rare Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt Cartridges Unearthed in Wisconsin
8/12/2026, 8:14:24 PM
Discovery of the Collection
A box of 97 “absolutely pristine” Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt cartridges surfaced after One Stop Wonders store owner Kevin Braun in Waukesha, Wisconsin, mentioned the stash to veteran collector Jason Ganos. Braun had acquired the cartridges from a customer who kept them as metal scrap. Ganos, a longtime Nintendo-tattooed enthusiast who runs the Nintendo-focused news service Nintendo Wire, recognized their rarity and flew to California with the cartridges for expert verification.
Background and Production History
The cartridges were manufactured in 1993, two years after Nintendo discontinued the original 1988 bundle. Their origin remains uncertain; both Braun and Ganos suspect they were either warranty replacements or part of an unreleased retailer bundle. The set represents the last known production run of this title.
Auction Details and Market Outlook
Most of the 97 cartridges will be offered in an online auction beginning Friday and running through Sept. 9. Three of the five PSA-graded copies that received a perfect 10 score will be sold at Golden Pop’s Culture Auction, while the remaining perfect-10 and high-9 copies are being retained. Ultra-rare video-game cartridges have fetched six- to seven-figure sums in the collector market, and the pristine condition of these items could command premium prices, though Ganos declined to estimate a specific value.
Official Statements & Responses
Ganos described the find as “serendipitous” and likened it to uncovering a “Holy Grail.” He emphasized the historical significance of the ten-point scores, noting that no NES cartridge had previously earned a perfect 10 from Professional Sports Authenticator. Braun expressed uncertainty about why the cartridges were produced but agreed they represent a unique piece of Nintendo history.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I still don’t quite believe that any of this is happening,” — Jason Ganos
- “It’s like pulling out like a Holy Grail,” — Jason Ganos
- “I flew down to California with 97 carts in my carry-on luggage, sweating bullets going through TSA, like why do you have 97 little circuit boards in your carry-on?” — Jason Ganos
- “I think there’s going to be historic significance to the tens,” — Jason Ganos
- “Finding uncirculated stuff for me is just like super exciting,” — Jason Ganos
