Rare working Apple-1 originally sold by Steve Jobs auctioned off for $365K
A vintage Apple-1 computer with documentation proving it was sold directly by late tech guru Steve Jobs for $600 in 1976 brought in $365,000 when the hammer fell at a New York auction on Thursday, falling short of estimates.
Expected by auction house Christie's to fetch between $400,000 to $600,000, the Ricketts Apple-1 Personal Computer, named after original owner Charles Ricketts, is one of approximately 50 surviving models known to be in working condition.
The computer went through a total of five owners including Ricketts, the last being seller Bob Luther, who bought the Apple-1 from a sheriff's sale in December 2004 for $7,600, reports Computerworld. Also included in the lot was a cancelled check dating back to July 27, 1976. Made out to Apple Computer, the check bears a note from Ricketts reading "Purchased July 1976 from Steve Jobs in his parents' garage in Los Altos," proving the item's provenance.
Also part of the auction was a collection of original Apple documents sold by cofounder Ron Wayne. Among the papers were proofs of the Apple-1 manual, the original company logo and designs for an Apple II case.
Today's $365,000 gavel price is far from a record-setting Apple-1 auction conducted by Bonhams in October that saw the Henry Ford organization successfully bid $905,000 to take museum in Dearborn, Mich. That example was expected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000.
Apple-1 hardware prices have gone through the roof as a result of Apple's unparalleled success over the past decade. In 2013, an Apple 1 unit sold for $671,400 to an anonymous German buyer. Prior to that, a working example brought in $640,000.
Expected by auction house Christie's to fetch between $400,000 to $600,000, the Ricketts Apple-1 Personal Computer, named after original owner Charles Ricketts, is one of approximately 50 surviving models known to be in working condition.
The computer went through a total of five owners including Ricketts, the last being seller Bob Luther, who bought the Apple-1 from a sheriff's sale in December 2004 for $7,600, reports Computerworld. Also included in the lot was a cancelled check dating back to July 27, 1976. Made out to Apple Computer, the check bears a note from Ricketts reading "Purchased July 1976 from Steve Jobs in his parents' garage in Los Altos," proving the item's provenance.
Also part of the auction was a collection of original Apple documents sold by cofounder Ron Wayne. Among the papers were proofs of the Apple-1 manual, the original company logo and designs for an Apple II case.
Today's $365,000 gavel price is far from a record-setting Apple-1 auction conducted by Bonhams in October that saw the Henry Ford organization successfully bid $905,000 to take museum in Dearborn, Mich. That example was expected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000.
Apple-1 hardware prices have gone through the roof as a result of Apple's unparalleled success over the past decade. In 2013, an Apple 1 unit sold for $671,400 to an anonymous German buyer. Prior to that, a working example brought in $640,000.
Comments
Bargain!!!
Can it be upgraded to Yosemite?
I'm pretty sure they were $666.66, not $600.
Insane - somebody has waaay too much money.
I'm pretty sure they were $666.66, not $600.
I am pretty sure the canceled check proves that Steve Jobs' personally sold the Apple I for $600 out of his garage to Charles Ricketts. Other Apple I's may have been sold for $666.66, but the one Jobs sold out of the garage was $600.
http://www.macgeek.org/museum/appleone/apple_1_checks.jpg
I'm pretty sure they were $666.66, not $600.
At that time it wasn't worth even $600. to me.
That was 2 months rent on my apartment.
They only sold 50 in total, so all 50 survived and are still working?
memories - ...circuits & soddering...
WOW! really, "one of approximately 50 surviving models known to be in working condition."
They only sold 50 in total, so all 50 survived and are still working?
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/apple1-originals.htm
I have a System 7 disc that I'm selling for $5000.0
I have a System 7.6.1 disc that I’m selling for $4999.99.
BOOM, CAPITALISM.