A rare original copy of an iconic Super Mario Bros. video game has been sold for $100,150 in an auction. According to Heritage Auctions, the sale set a new world record for a graded Video game.
The record-breaking purchase was made by a trio of renowned video game collectors: The group includes Jim Halperin, Founder and Co-Chairman of Heritage Auctions, Rich Lecce, owner of Robert B. Lecce Numismatist Inc., and Zac Gieg, owner of Just Press Play Video Games.
The item is "sticker sealed", which means only a handful of copies were released as part of a test market launch for NES. It was only available in New York and L.A. in 1985 and 1986. In addition, the game was certified as near mint condition by Wata Games and this certification added to its rarity.
All parties involved were satisfied with the outcome.
"I'm very happy with our purchase of the Super Mario Bros., considering the impact the release of this game had on the world and continues to have," said Heritage Auctions' Halperin.
Gieg compared the purchase of an unopened copy of Super Mario Bros. to finding a rare copy of historic DC comic book Action Comics #1 which was sold for 3.2 Million in 2014. The comic marks the first appearance of Superman.
"We all knew how hard it is to find an open copy of this version in nice condition, but to find one still sealed is truly something I thought I would never see, even after selling vintage video games for over 20 years," said Gieg.
Due to security concerns, the previous owner wishes to remain anonymous in this private transaction.
The game was first released in Japan in 1985.
