The Harvey Collection, which comes to auction September 7, is loaded with rare and unusual video game items that we’ve never offered before: everything from vintage clothing to out-of-print books to original art to game and controller prototypes. Since we will likely never see many of these items ever again, I decided to spotlight some of my favorites for posterity’s sake, as well as to showcase some things that deserve a closer look.
Preview the 2023 September 7 The Harvey Collection Video Games Showcase Auction #44210. Bidding opens August 10, 2023.
Here are seven items from The Harvey Collection that I’m super excited for our bidders to check out:
1. Vintage Q*bert Medium Baseball T-Shirt Signed by Creator Warren Davis
I was a big Q*bert fan when it was new in the arcades in 1982, but I could never beat my high school classmate Gilbert DeLuna, whose skills at the game seemed almost supernatural. Regardless, I loved the game. My teenage self wouldn’t believe that I am now friends with Q*bert creator Warren Davis as we are frequently on the guest list at the same video game conventions around the country. A few years ago, Davis even sent me advance text for his autobiography, asking me for my opinion about what he had written and if I had any suggestions. Yes, I considered it huge honor. I wear a Large sized shirt so I won’t be bidding on the vintage Medium T we’re offering, but I am already envious of whoever takes home this prize. I would totally wear it to the next gaming convention and be the envy of pretty much everyone in attendance. And Warren himself would certainly get a kick out of it!
2. Atari 5100 Prototype Console
Compared to pretty much every other gaming console ever released, the Atari 5200 was massive. It was so big you could store the controllers in the unit. It was really too big, not to mention expensive to produce and ship, so Atari designed a smaller unit dubbed the Atari 5100 (nicknamed the 5200 Jr. or Little PAM). Unfortunately, thanks in part to the market crash of 1983, the 5100 was never released, and only a few prototypes were made. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to be offering an example of this incredibly rare item. The console functions like a two-port 5200, but it has a smaller system board and lacks an expansion port. Further, there is no room to store the controllers, which was an unnecessary feature to begin with. Designed by Mark Biassotti, who also created the Atari 2600 Jr. shell, the 5100 is a fascinating footnote in video game history and a must-own for hardcore Atari collectors.
3. Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man Intellivision Pre-Production Comic Book Ad Art
With more and more frequency, items we’re offering from our video game department transcend the medium and appeal to collectors in other categories. That certainly applies to this extraordinary pre-production art for the classic Intellivision game, Masters of the Universe: The Power of He-Man. Not only will Intellivision fans clamor for the dynamic piece, comics aficionados will show interest as well because the art was created for an ad that appeared on the back cover of numerous comic books. While the final illustration for the ad was different, the basic layout is similar, and it’s interesting to view this unused comp. The illustration, drawn by Will Meugniot, will obviously intrigue the many fans of the He-Man action figures and cartoon series as well. With nostalgia for all things He-Man in full force (as evidenced in part by influencer “Pixel” Dan’s recent book on the subject), you can bet your Power Sword that this lot will receive plenty of attention.
4. Nintendo World Championships 1990 Grey
The Nintendo World Championships is a legendary competition series. While the original 1990 event, which toured 29 American cities, wasn’t the first esports competition, it is widely regarded as the most iconic. Contestants played a special Nintendo World Championships 1990 cartridge for the Nintendo Entertainment System that contained modified versions of three different popular games: Super Mario Bros. (collect 50 coins), Rad Racer (race on a special NWC course), and Tetris (earn the high score). During the official competition, gamers had a little over six minutes to play all three games, but the cartridge itself contains dipswitches that can alter the time limit. After the championship was concluded, each of the 90 finalists received a copy of the grey cart, which is now considered one of the holy grails of gaming. Whenever these rarities show up for sale, they go for tens of thousands of dollars. The copy in The Harvey Collection is tied with just one other for the highest-graded example we’ve ever offered.
5. Digital Press Classic Videogames Collector’s Guide 2nd Edition
During the early 1990s, I discovered video game fandom, thanks in part to fanzines and a series of Collector’s Guides published by Digital Press. Prior to this, I figured I was the only person in the world who still collected and played games for such outdated consoles as the Atari 2600, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, and ColecoVision. The Digital Press Collector’s Guides were published by Joe Santulli, a co-founder of the National Video Game Museum in Frisco, Texas, which is just a half hour from our headquarters in Dallas. This second edition features listings of and information on games not only for the quartet of systems mentioned above, but also such obscure consoles as the Astrocade, Arcadia 2001, Fairchild Channel F, and Vectrex. Prior to the proliferation of the internet, this is how I cataloged my collection, but these books are very hard to find today. We’ve got the fourth and fifth editions of the guide in this sale as well.
6. Sonic Blast Pocket Arcade Original Art
Back in 1989, I was still playing my Atari 2600, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Odyssey 2, and NES on a regular basis, and I saw no good reason to pick up a Sega Genesis, which hit store shelves that year. Sure, it seemed like a cool and advanced console, but I was in no hurry to level-up. However, this changed in 1991 with the release of Sonic the Hedgehog, a dazzling, high-speed platformer with an attitude. I rushed out to get a Genesis and have been a fan of the Sonic games ever since. One of the more obscure titles featuring Sega’s iconic mascot is Sonic Blast Pocket Arcade, released by Tomy in 1994. This handheld game can’t compare to its 16-bit counterparts in terms of gameplay, sound, and graphics, but this original art sure can. It was illustrated by Greg Martin, who many consider to be the premiere Sonic the Hedgehog artist. The piece is gorgeous and would look amazing displayed in any Sega fan’s game room, library, or office.
7. Sonic the Hedgehog Bible Marketing Folder
As mentioned above, I immediately became a Sonic the Hedgehog fan upon acquiring his first game when it came out in 1991. I absolutely loved the side-scrolling platformer, thanks to its richly colored and detailed graphics, its attitudinal protagonist, its delightful sound effects and music, and, of course, its high-speed gameplay. For a time, when Sonic was the newer, edgier, cooler kid on the block, he even passed up Mario as the platforming protagonist of choice among many gamers, especially teens and twenty-somethings. The marketing folder we’re offering is an absolute treasure for Sonic enthusiasts, featuring art pages, an introduction from “Sonic” himself, a bio of the blue hedgehog, a guide to the characters in the game, and more. Sonic the Hedgehog influenced countless games to follow, and this rare folder gives a good behind-the-scenes look at the marketing of the title character.
Browse all the treasures in the Harvey Collection.
The Harvey Collection has a truly stunning array of rare and unusual video game collectibles. If you’re looking for prototypes, especially for the PS1, PS2, and Xbox, you’ve found the right auction. You’ll find prototypes ranging from Halo to Kingdom Hearts to God of War, to name just a few. The original art offered is truly stunning, particularly Masters of the Universe, Star Wars Chess, Pac-Man, and Superman. Long before the internet, many gamers used Digital Press guides to track their collections—we’ve got three different ones in this sale! Other gems offered include a Turok: Rage Wars rare grey cart variant, a Sonic the Hedgehog marketing bible, a vintage Q*bert shirt signed by creator Warren Davis, a Mario’s Game Gallery (PC, 1995) folder with Greg Martin sketches and promo material, and items from the fabled Nintendo World Championships. This just scratches the surface of what we’re offering in this amazing sale!