I recently stumbled upon a treasure trove of gaming history, a discovery that left me in awe and sparked a journey of exploration and analysis. It all began with a simple trip to a retro store, where I encountered a box of NES games that seemed ordinary at first glance. But as I delved deeper, I realized that this box held something extraordinary - 97 never-before-seen variants of the iconic Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt game. This find not only thrilled me as a collector but also raised intriguing questions about Nintendo's history and the reasons behind these unique cartridges. What makes this discovery even more fascinating is the journey of the box itself, from its origins in Japan to its eventual landing in a small retro shop in Wisconsin. The box, with its Japanese sticker and inventory details, tells a story of its own, one that I couldn't help but unravel. As I delved into the contents, I discovered that these cartridges were not just pristine copies of a common game; they were an undocumented variant, produced in late 1993, with manufacturing codes and manuals that differed from the standard. This realization led me to seek expert opinions, and I was guided to PSA, a grading company, for authentication. The process was a thrilling one, with each cartridge being carefully inspected and graded. The results were remarkable, with five cartridges receiving the coveted PSA 10 score, a world's first for an NES cartridge. Now, the question remains: what's next for this collection? Kevin and I plan to keep some for ourselves, auction off others, and even set up charity auctions. The first three games, including one of the PSA 10s, will be auctioned on August 12th at Goldin Auctions. This discovery has not only enriched my collection but also highlighted the hidden gems that can be found in the gaming world. It's a reminder that even the most familiar games can hold secrets and surprises, waiting to be uncovered by curious collectors like myself. So, stay tuned as we continue to explore and celebrate the wonders of gaming history!
