Box Only Zelda Graded by CGC Video Games Realizes More than $7,000 in Heritage Sale

The standalone box for the classic NES game is an excellent example of a well-preserved component that could be used for a complete in box submission later on.

Posted on: 12/13/2023

A box only copy of The Legend of Zelda graded CGC 9.4 recently sold for more than $7,000 in a Heritage Auctions sale. The NES classic was among dozens of CGC-certified collectibles in the Nintendo 8 to 64-bit Video Games Showcase Auction, which ended on November 30, 2023.

In the 8 and 16-bit era of gaming, many video games were packaged in cardboard boxes. Unlike the plastic cases used for modern video games, cardboard boxes were more prone to being damaged, such as being torn or soaked. Because of this, older games are often missing their boxes or, if they have a box, they are not often well preserved.

This Legend of Zelda box is a rare exception. The box only copy of The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) (lot 79047) received a grade of CGC 9.4 for its beautiful preservation! The box still has the original shrink wrap mostly intact — it is only opened at the top of the box, where the original owner opened it to remove the inside components. Additionally, the original Montgomery Ward price sticker remains on the front of the box, adding provenance. It realized an impressive $7,200 in the sale.

The sale included two other box only collectibles: an Ice Climber for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.4 (lot 79041) that realized $780 and a Donkey Kong for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1987) graded CGC 9.4 (lot 79026) that realized $504.

Do you have standalone video game boxes or cartridges that you’d like to preserve while you collect the rest of your components for a complete in box game? Send them to CGC Video Games for box only and cartridge only grading! The industry-leading CGC Video Games holder will help protect each component until they are ready to be resubmitted for a full complete in box grade. For more information, click here.

Other CGC-certified highlights in the auction included:

  • a sealed DayDreamin’ Davey for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1992) graded CGC 9.6 A+ (lot 79021) that realized $4,080
  • a sealed Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1995) graded CGC 9.2 A+ (lot 79205) that realized $4,080
  • a sealed Disney’s DuckTales for the Nintendo Entertainment System (1989) graded CGC 9.4 A (lot 79024) that realized $3,600
  • a Nintendo Fun Club News v1 #2 (Nintendo of America Inc., Summer 1987) with a Signature Series Label (Howard W. Phillips II) graded CGC 6.5 (lot 79091) that realized $2,880

Prices realized include buyer's premium.