Ultra rare Apple-1 computer could fetch up to $1M in auction
Auction website CharityBuzz on Thursday announced the upcoming sale of an extremely rare Apple-1 computer dubbed "Celebration," so named because it is the only known unit still in existence to feature a pre-production circuit board.
Commenting on the unit's significance, computer historian and vintage Apple hardware specialist Corey Cohen notes the "Celebration" sports different sockets and components from those seen on production Apple-1 models. The variations suggest the board up for auction started out as a blank, possibly a one-of-a-kind factory sample, making it a highly desirable collector's item.
As the unit does not appear to be part of Apple's original run of 200 assembled Apple-1 computers -- 175 of which were sold -- the accompanying record of ownership is not complete, though the original owner is believed to be a former Apple employee who sold the machine in 2000. Each Apple-1 was hand built by company cofounder Steve Wozniak in Steve Jobs' garage in Los Altos, Calif. When the product was first released in 1976, it sold for $666.66 without power supply, display, keyboard or housing.
Along with the unique PCB made in 1976, the Celebration Apple-1 comes with its original ACI cassette board, an early Apple-1 BASIC cassette, non-functioning power supply and documentation. Cohen says the operations manual with schematics, Apple-1 BASIC manual, Apple-1 Cassette Adapter manual, schematics and marketing materials makes up the "most complete" set of documentation to accompany currently known Apple-1 boards.
Due to its rarity, the machine was not restored and does not function. Based on a 10-point scale that rates the condition of an Apple-1 model auctioned off to Henry Ford organization in 2014 as a 9.5, the "Celebration" package comes in at 6.5. Despite a less than perfect preservation score, the board's pedigree is expected to draw bids in the $1 million range, CharityBuzz says.
The month-long auction period kicks off on Monday, July 25, with an end date of Aug. 25. Ten percent of proceeds raised will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for LLS research, patient services, advocacy and other services. Prior to sale, the "Celebration" Apple-1 will make a public appearance at this year's Vintage Computer Festival West at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7.
Commenting on the unit's significance, computer historian and vintage Apple hardware specialist Corey Cohen notes the "Celebration" sports different sockets and components from those seen on production Apple-1 models. The variations suggest the board up for auction started out as a blank, possibly a one-of-a-kind factory sample, making it a highly desirable collector's item.
As the unit does not appear to be part of Apple's original run of 200 assembled Apple-1 computers -- 175 of which were sold -- the accompanying record of ownership is not complete, though the original owner is believed to be a former Apple employee who sold the machine in 2000. Each Apple-1 was hand built by company cofounder Steve Wozniak in Steve Jobs' garage in Los Altos, Calif. When the product was first released in 1976, it sold for $666.66 without power supply, display, keyboard or housing.
Along with the unique PCB made in 1976, the Celebration Apple-1 comes with its original ACI cassette board, an early Apple-1 BASIC cassette, non-functioning power supply and documentation. Cohen says the operations manual with schematics, Apple-1 BASIC manual, Apple-1 Cassette Adapter manual, schematics and marketing materials makes up the "most complete" set of documentation to accompany currently known Apple-1 boards.
Due to its rarity, the machine was not restored and does not function. Based on a 10-point scale that rates the condition of an Apple-1 model auctioned off to Henry Ford organization in 2014 as a 9.5, the "Celebration" package comes in at 6.5. Despite a less than perfect preservation score, the board's pedigree is expected to draw bids in the $1 million range, CharityBuzz says.
The month-long auction period kicks off on Monday, July 25, with an end date of Aug. 25. Ten percent of proceeds raised will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for LLS research, patient services, advocacy and other services. Prior to sale, the "Celebration" Apple-1 will make a public appearance at this year's Vintage Computer Festival West at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif., on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7.
Comments
By the same token, although I appreciate the lines of a 1968 E-type Jag, I'd prefer a 2016 Miata that, as John Lennon once said, "just works!"
Comments?
Best.
Why does anybody have to choose between the old and the new? Why not have both? Whoever has money to buy and collect this vintage Apple machine also has plenty of modern machines too I'm sure.
Too true. I'd have bought one if I had the money.
And about having old and new, I'm looking for a Bondi Blue iMac right now. For some reason I really want to have one.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/nicolas-cage-superman-comic-record-2-million-sale-267770
He bought Action Comics no.1 for $150k in 1997 and it sold for $2.1m in 2011. You could easily get a digital version but they aren't making any more of the rare originals. Even though modern computer models similarly go out of production eventually, they are part of production runs in the millions so they don't carry the same value.
The value of these old items also depends on how important they were - perceived value. Action Comics no. 1 was the first appearance of Superman. If it had been the first appearance of say, Almighty Dollar then nobody would be interested in it:
http://comicvine.gamespot.com/almighty-dollar/4005-59100/
"J. Pennington Pennypacker was an average certified public accountant until he attended the Camp Runamuk self-esteem camp. The camp was actually a front for a crazed scientist who had invented a device that gave anyone it was used on superpowers. After the device was used on Pennypacker it apparently gave him the ability to "throw money" at his problems.
As Almighty Dollar, Pennypacker could shoot torrents of pennies from his wrists."
If Apple had gone bankrupt in the 90s, these original Apple computers would probably not be worth anything at all. Now that Apple is the most valuable company in the world, the products that brought them to this point have more significance to people. They aren't bought with the intention of being used, that would be the worst thing to do as it can damage the parts. It's like having a valuable painting that hangs on the wall and it just keeps getting passed from one investor to another.
The fact you would want a Miata show the lack of appreciating for automotive engineering. I get most people do not want to worry about the constant repair of a Jag of the 60's era, but there are far better modern day examples than a Miata.