The 1981 Donkey Kong Arcade Flyer.... Online Prices are Skyrocketing!!

The 1981 Donkey Kong Arcade Flyer is quickly gaining attention in the Video Game Community...and for good reason. The 1981 North American Donkey Kong arcade sales flyer is widely known as the first time the name "Mario" appeared in print! When Nintendo originally released Donkey Kong in July of 1981 in Japan, the character had no official name in the game itself. Actually, Shigeru Miyamoto called him "Ossan" (middle-aged guy) or "Mr. Video." When the game was brought over to the US, the localized operation manuals & cabinet instruction cards referred to him as "Jumpman." Because the cabinet art & programming were already complete, the new name could not be integrated into the actual arcade machines. Instead, the name made its First public debut on the back of the US promotional sales flyer distributed "ONLY" to arcade operators & distributors, not to the general public. 

Because the flyer was a trade document targeted at arcade operators & distributors rather than the general gaming public, many players did not realize his name was Mario until the release of the 1982 sequel Donkey Kong Jr. This sequel marked the first time the name Mario was officially displayed on an arcade screen & used in direct consumer advertising. Another important fact to mention is there was also a Japanese version of this flyer as well. Although, the Japanese flyer did Not use the name Mario. He was called Jumpman. So, the US flyer from NOA (Nintendo of America) was the "Only" Donkey Kong flyer that used the name Mario. Even though Nintendo mass produced these flyers, they are becoming very difficult to find. A lot of these flyers that were sent out to operators & distributors simply didn't survive. Especially since this paper flyer is now 45 years old.

According to my research, this is the Earliest piece of Mario Memorabilia that exists!! Its the First Time Mario's name ever appeared in print...anywhere in the World!! 

I have noticed and Explosion of Sale Prices on Ebay for this flyer since early 2026. Below are more pics of the flyer. Also, there are pics of the Ebay sales for this flyer so far in 2026.

Prices are trending up!!