NEW RECORD! First Production The Legend of Zelda Realizes $288,000 in Heritage Sale

The Nintendo classic more than doubled the previous record for a collectible certified by CGC Video Games.

Posted on: 2/26/2024

A sealed First Production copy of The Legend of Zelda graded by CGC Video Games™ realized an impressive $288,000 in a recent Heritage Auctions sale, becoming the highest-selling CGC-certified video game sold at auction. The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) rarity was among dozens of CGC-certified video games and other gaming collectibles available in Heritage’s Video Games Signature Auction, which ended on February 22-24, 2024.

This sealed First Production edition of The Legend of Zelda for the NES (1987) graded CGC 8.0 A (lot 28025) is only the second example of its kind to have been offered by Heritage Auctions. Opportunities to obtain a sealed copy of a First Production run of The Legend of Zelda are extremely rare. Many who bought the game upon its release in 1987 immediately tore into the box to try it out, so sealed examples prompt fierce bidding.

This CGC-certified First Production copy of The Legend of Zelda now has the highest price realized by any video game certified by CGC Video Games. It more than doubled the previous record price realized of a collectible certified by CGC Video Games at Heritage Auctions: $120,000 for a mid-production CGC-certified copy of The Legend of Zelda for the NES, which is pedigreed as the first game graded by CGC Video Games. In addition to the two Zeldas, a third collectible certified by CGC Video Games has achieved six figures through Heritage Auctions: a Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES (1990) graded CGC 9.4 A+ that realized $108,000 in November 2023.

"Prices like these demonstrate the benefits of certification by CGC Video Games," said Kenneth Thrower, CGC Video Games Senior Grading Finalizer. "Our expert grading services give buyers the highest level of confidence when an ultra-rare game like this becomes available to the collecting public."

Other CGC-certified video games and video game paraphernalia in the February 2024 auction included:

  • a Stadium Events cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 8.0 (lot 28043) that realized $18,600
  • a Nintendo Power #1 (Nintendo of America Inc., 1988) graded CGC 9.4 (lot 28113) that realized $16,800
  • a complete in box Metroid for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.6 with CIB grades of 9.6 for Box, 9.8 for Cartridge and 9.4 for Manual (lot 28030) that realized $9,601
  • a sealed Mega Man Soccer for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1994) graded CGC 9.4 A+ (lot 28072) that realized $9,600
  • a complete in box Super Mario Bros. for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1986) graded CGC 8.5 with CIB grades of 7.5 for Box, 9.2 for Cartridge and 9.4 for Manual (lot 28196) that realized $9,000
  • a sealed Super Metroid for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1994) graded CGC 9.4 A+ (lot 28077) that realized $9,000

All prices realized include a buyer’s premium.

About CGC

Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for many other types of pop culture collectibles. These divisions include CGC Cards, CGC Video Games and CGC Home Video. CGC Cards provides expert card grading for TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards. CGC Video Games is dedicated to video game grading for the most popular consoles, including Nintendo, Sega, Atari, PlayStation and more. The newest division of CGC, CGC Home Video, provides expert VHS grading in addition to other types of home media.

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