Historic Apple Memorabilia Auction Surpasses $5 Million with Two Iconic Items
In a remarkable event celebrating Apple’s 50th anniversary, RR Auction’s Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution auction concluded with a total of $8,153,074 in sales. The auction’s highlight was the sale of two extraordinary items that collectively fetched over $5 million, underscoring the immense value placed on artifacts from Apple’s formative years.
Apple Computer Check No. 1: A $2.4 Million Milestone
The centerpiece of the auction was Apple Computer Check No. 1, dated 1976 and signed by co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. This historic check sold for $2,409,886, including the buyer’s premium. More than just a financial instrument, this check symbolizes the inception of Apple as a legitimate business entity. RR Auction’s executive vice president described it as the most significant financial document in Apple’s history, noting that collectors regarded it as the premier Apple artifact ever to reach the market.
Apple-1 Celebration Prototype Board: A $2.75 Million Treasure
Another standout was the Apple-1 Celebration prototype board, also known as Prototype Board #0, which commanded a price of $2,750,000, including the buyer’s premium. This prototype represents the genesis of Apple’s hardware innovation, offering a tangible connection to the company’s early engineering endeavors.
Additional Noteworthy Sales
Beyond these two marquee items, the auction featured several other significant pieces that attracted substantial bids:
– March 1976 Wells Fargo Account Statement for Apple Computer Co.: This document, detailing Apple’s early financial transactions, sold for $828,569.
– Steve Jobs’s Personally Owned 1977 Apple Computer Inc. Poster: A poster from Apple’s early marketing efforts, personally owned by Jobs, fetched $659,900.
– Steve Jobs’s Personally Owned Apple-1 Byte Shop Wooden Case: This wooden case, associated with the original Apple-1 computers sold through the Byte Shop, garnered $254,375.
– Steve Jobs’s Personally Owned Bow Ties: A collection of bow ties once owned by Jobs sold for $113,580, highlighting the personal connection collectors seek with the tech icon.
The Significance of Provenance in Collecting
This auction underscores the premium that collectors place on provenance—the documented history of an item. Artifacts directly linked to Apple’s early days, especially those associated with Steve Jobs, command the highest bids. Financial records, prototype hardware, and personal items provide a multifaceted narrative of Apple’s origins, making them highly coveted in the memorabilia market.
A Growing Market for Apple Memorabilia
The success of this auction reflects a broader trend in the collectibles market, where items related to tech pioneers are increasingly valued. For instance, a 1983 business card signed by Steve Jobs recently attracted significant interest, with bids reaching $75,000. Similarly, a fully functional Apple-1 computer signed by Steve Wozniak was listed with a starting bid of $50,000, highlighting the enduring appeal of Apple’s early artifacts.
Conclusion
The RR Auction event not only celebrated Apple’s rich history but also demonstrated the profound impact of its founders’ legacy. Collectors’ willingness to invest substantial sums in these artifacts speaks to the enduring fascination with Apple’s journey from a garage startup to a global tech leader. As the market for tech memorabilia continues to grow, items with direct ties to the industry’s pioneers are likely to remain highly sought after.
