Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 VGSers, I am pleased to be able to be able to say that about 13 years after it first originally sold (which was only a year or so before I inquired about it with the owner at the time) for $200 or so, I was able to purchase the original box illustration for Contra, I just had to add three zero Of the games that mattered to me as a kid - tyson, SMB, contra, excitebike, etc., its really the only one where a real piece of artwork exists. The "black box" illustrations were just photographs of construction paper cut outs (south park style), tyson was a photo - and Contra, Contra was a painting. I put out a public bounty for it about a year ago, and while the bounty wasn't insignificant it wasn't even close to being something the owner could accept (and I can't blame him). It did, to my surprise however, result in my finding out who the owner was. Fast forward some time and add some ability for me to make a stronger offer, and I was able to purchase what I feel is the very best artifact relating to one of my favorite games and also one of the very best pieces of nintendo memorabilia in existence, if I say so myself. Without further ado, a pic, a close up, and a heartfelt thanks to both the seller and my agent in Sweden, David Brolin, who met the vendor in Stockholm for the hand off. thanks everyone and I hope you enjoy the pics. As a bit of backstory, the title was originally released as gryzor on a small console in europe. Lastly, I never did realize it but if you look very very closely the art is in fact signed in red. I'll have to pull my copy of contra and see if the signature is visible on the box. 18 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DefaultGen | 5,400 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Wow, congrats dude. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 a sublte signature... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 one more close up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePhleo | 2,184 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Wak. Congratulations I’m getting your holy grail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) Wak! I wouldn’t call it that exactly, but thanks phleo. Edited October 24, 2019 by Bronty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoleGoose | 95 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 So it finally happened, congrats! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloves | 11,761 Administrator · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Grats man, awesome! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammerfestus | 3,824 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Congrats. It’s definitely nice to see this had a happy ending. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doner24 | 1,195 Moderator · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Wow, awesome pick up man! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorEncore | 3,690 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Holy cow! Congrats! It's gonna be tough to beat this post! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Splain | 2,560 Editorials Team · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) The original artwork for Contra/Gryzor??? That's an unreal pickup, huge congrats! So where did the background come from? Edited October 24, 2019 by Splain adding things 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ap123 | 112 Subscriber T1 · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Amazing perseverance. Well done! What are the dimensions? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abelardo | 154 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 This is awesome, congrats! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 Thanks so much everybody! The background was spliced in from the Japanese arcade poster. Dimensions are about 18 or 20 inches; I don’t have it in front of me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed Rothchild | 9,510 Editorials Team · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 As soon as I saw the avatar I knew 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 1 minute ago, Reed Rothchild said: As soon as I saw the avatar I knew I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that a couple days ago 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWunderful | 2,926 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Jesus Dan, so Nice. Glad to have you here too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captmorgandrinker | 1,649 Administrator · Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Nice and nice! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronty | 187 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) 8 minutes ago, MrWunderful said: Jesus Dan, so Nice. Glad to have you here too! Thx Corey for the last bit especially. A little bit about the artist Bob Wakelin. https://www.exotica.org.uk/wiki/Bob_Wakelin He clearly had an awesome sense of humour if you roll thru his comments on his work . He has passed away. Edited October 24, 2019 by Bronty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonebone | 1,307 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Epic, my fave NES game ever. Something I had in common with Dain. Make sure to thank all those new comic buyers piled in and overpaid for sealed NES games! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galdius | 1,507 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Wow! Congrats on the purchase. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OptOut | 8,881 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 OMG, that is AMAZING! That has got to be one of the best possible box art paintings to get hold of for the whole NES library, well done! I'm just wondering, what's your MOST desired NES boxart painting at this point? I know you were after this one for a long time. But if you could get your hands on just one more, either known to be out there or unknown, which would it be? Or would giving away that secret put the whole search in jeopardy?! Anyway, just wanted to say well done, PLEASE keep sharing stories and photos of your art! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snk2d4ever | 96 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Ridiculous. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VGD | 72 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Grats Dan! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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