Rare 1993 Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt Cartridges Unearthed in Wisconsin and Headed for Auction

On June 17, 2026, One Stop Wonders store owner Kevin Braun in Waukesha, Wisconsin, uncovered a sealed box containing 97 copies of the 1988 Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt bundle. Braun, who had acquired the box from a customer whose family had stored it as scrap metal, contacted longtime Nintendo collector Jason Ganos (publisher of Nintendo Wire) for assistance. Ganos confirmed the cartridges were manufactured in 1993, well after Nintendo discontinued the bundle in 1991, and suggested they were likely warranty replacements or part of an unreleased retailer bundle.

The Independent

Ganos flew the cartridges to California for professional grading by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator). Five of the 97 units earned a perfect 10 rating, the first NES titles ever to achieve that score. The owners plan to auction three of the perfect-10 cartridges through Golden Pop’s Culture Auction, beginning on a Friday and running online until September 9 (scheduled). The remaining copies, including other high-9 scores, will be sold in subsequent rounds, with a portion earmarked for a charity auction.

A rare Super Mario game cartridge that had been left in the warehouse of a game store in the United . .

According to AP and Nintendo Wire, ultra-rare video-game cartridges with unique production histories can command six- to seven-figure sums, and non-sale items like these may fetch millions of dollars. Their uncirculated condition further amplifies collector interest, mirroring price dynamics seen in comic-book and sports-card markets.

A rare Super Mario game cartridge that had been left in the warehouse of a game store in the United . .

Ganos described the find as “serendipitous” and likened it to pulling out the “Holy Grail” of Nintendo memorabilia. He emphasized the historic importance of the perfect-10 scores and noted that, while the cartridges are playable, preserving their pristine state is a priority. Braun echoed the sentiment, expressing excitement over the unexpected value of the long-shelved inventory.

The Independent

• “I still don’t quite believe that any of this is happening,” — Jason Ganos

The Independent

• “It’s like pulling out like a Holy Grail,” — Jason Ganos

The Independent

• “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

The Independent

• “I think there’s going to be historic significance to the tens,” — Jason Ganos

The Independent

• “Finding uncirculated stuff for me is just like super exciting,” — Jason Ganos

The Independent