Yahoo Lifestyle Vintage Video Games From ‘Zelda’ to ‘Super Mario Bros.’ Are Heading to Auction
If you played video games in the ‘80s and ‘90s, a treasure trove of iconic titles is headed to auction.
Later this month, a group of rare video games will make their debut with Dallas-based Heritage Auctions in a two-day sale running on August 23 and 24. The hotly anticipated event will offer collectibles from the Dallas-Fort Worth Collection, which consists of more than 30 retro, holy grail titles including The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros.
More from Robb Report
A Majority of Diners Are Willing to Spend on Ultra-Luxe Ingredients at Restaurants: Report
An Early Version of Princess Leia's Iconic Gold Bikini Just Sold for $175,000 at Auction
“This recently discovered Dallas-Fort Worth Collection needs little introduction,” Valarie Spiegel, Heritage’s managing director of video games, said in a press statement. “While other pieces from the collection will be featured in future Heritage sales, this auction showcases its most prized items”
All eyes will be on a sealed, first-production copy of 1987’s The Legend of Zelda. The CGC 9.2A-rated cartridge is nestled inside an unopened clear plastic case and includes a “TM” printed on the bottom right front cover. Previously, an early production copy of The Legend of Zelda from 1987 fetched an eye-watering $870,000 in 2021, smashing the world record. More recently in February, the auction house sold a similar copy for $288,000.
“Thanks to its well-kept condition and K·B Toys price sticker, you can practically imagine plucking this copy of the iconic game off store shelves back in 1987,” Spiegel added. “We’ve only sold two sealed first-production copies previously, and this one is a full six grades higher than either of those two examples. It’s also the top copy offered in a public auction in recent memory.”
Another significant lot that’s set to go under the hammer is a sealed hangtab variant of Metroid. The classic 1987 Nintendo Entertainment System game is graded at an impressive CGC 9.6A+. “The chance to acquire a sealed hangtab variant of Metroid, especially one in such outstanding condition, is extremely rare and likely won’t come around again any time soon,” said Spiegel.
Elsewhere, a sealed, first production matte sticker copy of Super Mario Bros. from 1985 will be up for grabs. Not only is it the only unopened, single-first print copy known to exist, but it’s also the highest component and box grade that Heritage has ever offered.
In addition to games, a 1992 PlayStation SNES Prototype controller from Sony and Nintendo’s failed collab will hit the auction block. The never-released device is believed to be one of the last remaining from the original 200 units—most of which have been destroyed since production—and is branded with “Sony PlayStation” in dark gray on the front and sports “Sony PlayStation Controller” text on the back. A similar prototype resurfaced in 2015 and was snapped up in 2020 for $360,000 by collector Greg McLemore.
Bidders, it’s game on.
Best of Robb Report
Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
