Own a Piece of Apple Computer History in RR Auction’s Upcoming Sale

The upcoming Apple, Jobs, Computer Hardware sale from RR Auction features 75 rare and important lots of memorabilia, ephemera, and art related to the Digital Revolution. The auction will start at 6:00 PM EDT on August 24, 2023.

Leading the sale is an Apple-1 computer signed by Steve Wozniak (lot #5011; estimate: USD 200,000 – $400,000). This fully-operational example comes to auction with a custom-built case, keyboard, and power supply. Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created the Apple-1 to be sold to computer hobbyists in 1976. It was one of the first ready-to-use ‘personal’ computers to enter the market and laid the groundwork for many of the duo’s later inventions. The current owner acquired this Apple-1 in 1980, and it was signed by Wozniak during a 2017 event at Bryant University. 

Several handwritten and signed paper works and ephemera from Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, including a signed check from 1976, will be available in this auction. The offered signed check was filled out and signed by Jobs and countersigned by Wozniak. The temporary check coincides with the opening of a bank account for Apple Computer Company, which Jobs and Wozniak would officially found around two weeks later. The auction house notes that the written amount—  $116.97—and timing suggests that the check paid for circuit boards used in early Apple-1 computers. The check comes to auction with a presale estimate of $50,000 to $60,000. 

Other pieces of Apple company history in this sale include a handwritten advertisement for the Apple-1 computer, penned by Steve Jobs (lot #5002; estimate: $30,000 – $50,000). Written in black ink on a binder sheet, the advertisement notes that the machine has “8k bytes of RAM” (random-access memory) and is “a real deal.” At the bottom, Jobs listed his parents’ home address and a phone number. A sealed first-generation Apple iPhone from 2007 is on offer (lot #5033; estimate: $20,000 – $40,000), as well as a 1988 NeXT Computer launch poster signed by Steve Jobs (lot #5007; estimate: $10,000 – $20,000). 

Beyond Apple-related lots, this auction presents assorted vintage items from Nintendo, Bendix, and other companies. A section of the catalog is devoted to items designed and used by American engineer and inventor Douglas Engelbart, an early proponent of computers and the Internet. 

Additional lots of interest include:

• A Nikola Tesla painting by Giovanni DeCunto (lot #5066; estimate: $65,000 – $75,000) 
• A five-button Douglas Engelbart coding keyset (lot #5061; estimate: $20,000 – $40,000) 
• An MITS Altair 8800 microcomputer from 1974 (lot #5052; estimate: $5,000 – $8,000) 
• An Apple computer prototype mouse from 1984 (lot #5017; estimate: $4,000 – $6,000) 
• An Apple iPhone 11 signed by Apple CEO Tim Cook (lot #5037; estimate: $3,000 – $5,000) 

Headquartered in Boston, RR Auction is a globally recognized and trusted source for rare documents, manuscripts, autographs, and historic artifacts. Internationally known and frequently featured in all media outlets, RR Auction prides itself on selling historic material, thoroughly examined by in-house experts and third-party authenticators, to ensure the highest standards of authenticity. With more than 40 years of auction experience, RR Auction continues to grow and expand into new categories, achieving record prices for clients around the world.

The Apple, Jobs, Computer Hardware sale from RR Auction will begin at 6:00 PM EDT on August 24, 2023. To view more information or register to bid, visit Bidsquare.