An uncirculated box of 97 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges discovered in a Wisconsin storage unit contains an undocumented manufacturing variant from late 1993, according to discoveries documented by collector Jason and verified by grading company PSA. Originally slated for gold recovery and recycling, the factory shipping box bypassed a 1995 salvage process before surfacing at the Waukesha retro store OneStopWonders, owned by Kevin Braun.
The Discovery at OneStopWonders in Waukesha
The discovery began when Jason visited OneStopWonders to repair a broken pinball machine for shop owner Kevin Braun. According to Braun, the inventory originated from a man whose grandfather operated a precious metal recovery service in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The metal recovery business held a contract with Nintendo to extract gold from circuit boards on unsold inventory. The box of Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges was scheduled to be melted down for its gold contacts, but it sat untouched in a garage for over two decades before Braun purchased it to sell individual games for $10 to $15.
Upon inspecting the storage unit, Jason uncovered a Japanese-labeled shipping box marked with a “NOA” sticker and an inventory date of December 19, 1995. The container description read “Mario – Hunt Remanufactured NES” with an original quantity of 100 pieces. Translation of the primary Japanese label confirmed the box held assembled NES cassettes.
Did you know? The shipping box listed a product date of 12/19/95, arriving years after the standard retail lifespan of original Nintendo Entertainment System hardware bundles had concluded.
Authentication and Variant Identification
After sharing photos of the find on a high-end gaming Facebook group, Jason received direct messages from directors at two separate video game grading companies, prompting him to inspect the internal circuit boards using a security-bit screwdriver. According to analysis aided by collector Joseph Leo, the cartridges featured an undocumented multi-language back label and manufacturing date codes from the 40th week of 1993 (code 9340).
Furthermore, the instruction manuals contained unique text differing from known versions, printing the phrase “maintenance or service” instead of the standard “maintenance or repairs.” Because these production dates postdate every known console bundle containing the game, preservation specialists theorize the cartridges were manufactured either as replacement stock for warranty repairs and refurbished systems or for an unreleased bundle.
PSA Grading and Historical Firsts
Jason hand-carried 97 cartridges in his carry-on luggage to PSA headquarters in Orange County, California, for official authentication. Grading results revealed exceptional preservation quality. According to PSA data, out of the initial batches evaluated, over half received a grade of 9.8, several scored 9.6, and a total of five cartridges achieved a PSA 10—marking the first time a PSA 10 grade has ever been awarded to a Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt NES cartridge.
Pro Tip: When evaluating vintage video game finds, professional authenticators examine both external label typography variants and internal board manufacturing stamps to distinguish standard retail stock from late-run or replacement inventory.
Upcoming Auctions and Preservation Plans
Following authentication, Jason and Kevin Braun established plans to distribute the collection through direct sales, charitable auctions, and high-end sales platforms. According to the announcement, the first three authenticated copies—including one of the rare PSA 10 specimens—are scheduled for auction on August 12 through Goldin Auctions. Full photographic angles and complete instruction manual scans will also be made publicly available online for archival research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the 97 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt cartridges found?
The cartridges were discovered inside a storage unit in Waukesha, Wisconsin, originating from the inventory of OneStopWonders owner Kevin Braun, who originally acquired them from a metal recovery service contractor.
What makes this discovery a unique variant?
According to collector documentation and grading analysis, the cartridges feature a multi-language back label, late 1993 date codes (9340), and an instruction manual variant printing the phrase “maintenance or service” instead of “maintenance or repairs.”
How many games received a PSA 10 grade?
A total of five cartridges from the discovery achieved a PSA 10 grade, representing the first time an NES cartridge of this title has received that score from PSA.
When are the graded games going up for auction?
The first three graded cartridges, including a PSA 10 copy, are scheduled to be auctioned on August 12 at Goldin Auctions.
Call to Action: What are your thoughts on this unprecedented NES discovery? Share your opinions in the comments below, explore our related retro gaming preservation articles, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the upcoming August 12 auction results.
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