The 1996 "Design of the Times / Best of the Times" award presented by P/O/P Times to Thomas A. Schutz Co. and Nintendo of America, for the Virtual Boy Floor/Counter Displays. It was auctioned on ebay in August of 2026.
From the auction description:
Show lessThe "Design of the Times" Best of the Times award was the top honor in the point-of-purchase display industry — the etched-glass piece takes the form of a diamond on a wood display base.
A COMPLETE PROVENANCE PACKAGE:
The award is offered together with its original documentation:
- The 1996 Design of the Times / Best of the Times etched-glass award (Nintendo Virtual Boy displays, Thomas A. Schutz Co.)
- An original framed congratulatory letter from Peter W. Hoyt, President/Publisher of Hoyt Publishing (parent of P/O/P Times), dated June 21, 1996, to the President of Schutz International, describing the award as the highest possible distinction in point-of-purchase display, selected from nearly 400 entries across 46 categories and judged by Pratt Institute design faculty
- A framed photograph of the Schutz team receiving the award at the Design of the Times event
- A copy of a period Schutz brochure page picturing the actual Virtual Boy Floor/Counter and Platform displays the award was won for
Nintendo's Virtual Boy is one of the most famous and sought-after chapters in Nintendo history, and original Virtual Boy retail display material is exceptionally scarce, the vast majority was destroyed after the system's short retail life. This lot documents the award-winning in-store display program for the Virtual Boy, complete with the letter and photo authenticating the award and the manufacturer literature showing the displays themselves. A remarkable display or centerpiece for a serious Nintendo or Virtual Boy collection.
