DALLAS, TX.- The highest-graded copy of Super Mario Bros. ever sold broke the world record for the most ever paid for any video game when it brought a winning bid of $114,000 in the third session of Heritage Auctions' Comics & Comic Art event July 10.

The new video games benchmark set by Super Mario Bros. - Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed [Hangtab, 3 Code, Mid-Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA led the total for the session to $699,648, against a pre-auction estimate of $428,000. The game is the highest seller on the NES console and the first in the Super Mario Bros. series. This unopened copy of this NES launch title soared to record heights in part because it was part of one of the short production runs of the game packaged in boxes with a cardboard hangtab underneath the plastic, an indication that it was part of one of the first variants produced after Nintendo started using shrink-wrap to seal the games rather than stickers.

"The demand for this game was extremely high, and if any lot in the sale could hit a number like that, it was going to be this one," Heritage Auctions Video Games Director Valarie McLeckie said. "We knew this would be a strong live session, but I don't think anybody could have anticipated how much bidding action there was on Heritage Live! and the phones. These results only verify Heritage Auctions' position in this rapidly growing market."

One lot that drew massive interest was a Sega Pluto-02 Console Prototype - Sega (c. 1995-1996), which brought a winning bid of $84,000. The prototype, from Sega's cancelled project to create a second model of the Sega Saturn console, never was released to the public before finding a new home Friday.

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! - Wata 9.2 B Sealed [Rev-A, Round SOQ, Mid-Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA prompted bids from 27 collectors before finishing at $50,400. The highest-graded copy ever offered though Heritage Auctions also is one of the highest-graded of the title with a round, Nintendo seal of quality.

The first sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 - Wata 9.0 A Sealed [Bros. "Left, First Production], NES Nintendo 1990 USA drew a winning bid of $38,400. The variant's nickname refers to the formatting of "Bros." on the front of the box, which confirms that this copy is from the earliest production run of the title, effectively equal to a "first printing." Sealed copies are unquestioned rarities, with the lot sold here believed to be one of fewer than 10 in existence.




Other top lots in the session included, but were not limited to:

• Wild Gunman - Wata 9.4 A Sealed [Hangtab, 2 Code, Mid-Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA: $26,400

• Contra - Wata 9.4 A Sealed [Round SOQ, Early Production], NES Konami 1988 USA: $21,600

• Super Mario Bros. 3 - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed [Bros. "Right," Later Production], NES Nintendo: $20,400

• Duck Hunt - Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed [Rev-A, Round SOQ, Later Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA: $14,400

• Rygar - Wata 9.6 B Sealed [Hangtab, First Production], NES Tecmo 1987 USA: $12,600

• Gyromite - Wata 6.0 A++ Sealed [Matte Sticker, First Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA: $11,100