The American Heritage Auctions announced the sale of this copy, which dates back to the second production of the game for the NES, describing it as “the most important video game ever put up at auction.”

The game remained preserved for 40 years inside its original tightly closed box with its control platform, without anyone touching it.

This copy derives its high investment value from the presence of a bright, unbroken sticker seal, a sealing system that Nintendo briefly adopted in 1986 before moving to thermoplastic packaging.

The auction house confirmed that there are only 3 copies known worldwide of this second production bearing the glossy label, and the sold copy is currently the best with a rating of “PSA 9.6 A++.”

The data indicated that this specific issue had not previously appeared at any public auction and was closed, which explains the large price jump it achieved.

The game and its accompanying platform date back to the Los Angeles market test era, in the early days of Nintendo’s expansion into the United States of America, representing the embodiment of the moment when video games transformed from a temporary pastime into a permanent part of global cultural and economic history.

These record sales achieve unprecedented capital returns in the collectibles and classic games market, which strengthens the position of these alternative assets as attractive investment tools for investors around the world. (24)