DALLAS, TX.- Heritage Auctions, the world’s largest collectibles auctioneer, will offer the most extensive (more than 370 lots) and highest-quality trove of video games ever offered at auction in its Comics & Comics Art Auction April 1-4.

“Our April Signature Auction features the largest selection of high-end video games we have ever offered in a single auction at Heritage in terms of variety and number of lots.” Heritage Auctions Video Games Director Valarie McLeckie said. “Not only that, but, without question, this sale is composed of the highest-quality selection of culturally significant, high-grade and rare video games we have ever offered.”

Super Mario Bros. - Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Hangtab, 1 Code, Mid-Production], NES Nintendo 1985 USA is a pristine example of a variant for this title that was produced for an extraordinarily short period of time. Its desirability is fueled by its variant’s rarity, and this is only further compounded by its exceptional level of condition. It is not only the finest sealed perforated cardboard hangtab copy of any black box title ever offered by Heritage Auctions but also the oldest sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. ever offered by Heritage.

“This particular copy was produced in late 1986, which means it was one of the earliest copies produced that had plastic shrink wrap, rather than sticker seal, and a perforated cardboard hangtab. By early 1987, Nintendo was producing a version that had another new variation to their original packaging,” McLeckie said. “Since the production window for this copy and others like it was so short, finding another copy from this same production run in similar condition would be as hard as looking for a single drop of water in an ocean. Never say never, but there's a good chance it can't be done.”

Pokémon Red Version - Wata 9.4 A++ Sealed [Sandshrew, First Production], GB Nintendo 1998 USA is the only sealed copy of the definitive first production of Pokémon Red Version ever offered through Heritage Auctions. The earliest copies of this game (as well as its sister title, Pokémon Blue Version) have a Sandshrew battling a Meowth in the screenshot on the back of the box, a distinction that was first made public within the last year. For most games that have multiple production runs, the first production variant is almost always the hardest to find either in sealed condition or a high grade – this copy offers both.

Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! - Wata 9.6 A++ Sealed [Oval SOQ TM, Later Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA is a higher-graded and newer copy than the one that Heritage Auctions sold in July 2020 for $50,400. The pristine copy offered here is the finest copy with an oval seal of quality ever offered through Heritage, and the only one ever offered by Heritage with a grade above Wata 9.2. Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! is the first Nintendo game ever endorsed by a celebrity; Tyson was later removed from the game once the license for Nintendo expired.

The fact that John Madden Football Championship Edition - Wata 9.2 A+ Sealed [Rental Exclusive], GEN EA Sports 1992 USA has remained factory-sealed is nothing short of remarkable. It’s the only sealed copy that Wata has graded to date making it– an unquestioned prize. The scarcity of a copy like this is difficult to overstate, considering this is the rental exclusive-version of the game; meaning, it was meant to be opened immediately at its final destination: Blockbuster.

Any copy of Pokémon Crystal Version - Wata 9.8 A++ Sealed, GBC Nintendo 2001 USA is a must-have for serious collectors, but the offered sealed copy of this entry into the Pokémon series is in even higher demand because of its extraordinary grade. Some collectors even call it the rarest main entry in the series. There are fewer than 10 Pokémon games carrying a Wata 10.0, none of which is a copy of Pokémon Crystal, making this the highest graded copy one could hope to obtain. Not only is it an exceptional game, it also is the first Pokémon game in which the player could choose to be a female trainer.

Other top lots include, but are not limited to:

• Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - Wata 9.6 A+ Sealed [Rev-A, Round SOQ, Early Production], NES Nintendo 1988 USA

• Super Mario Bros. 3 - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed ["Bros." Right, Later Production], NES Nintendo 1990 USA

• Spyro The Dragon - Wata 9.8 A+ Sealed, [No Sweepstakes, Sony Security Label, Mid-Production], PS1 Sony 1998 USA.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist - Wata 9.6 A Sealed, GEN Konami 1992 USA.

• Mega Man - Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed ["Dr. Wily," Second Production], NES Capcom 1987 USA