RR Auction Traces the History and Evolution of Apple Products in Upcoming Sale

Today known as the world’s largest company and one of the world’s most valuable brands, Apple Inc. was once an unknown partnership founded by two college dropouts. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs met in 1971, united by a shared interest in electronics. Their first inventions were turned down multiple times by large manufacturing companies before Jobs and Wozniak launched their own firm. A long line of commercially and culturally successful Apple products was born. 

The history of these products is on full display in RR Auction’s upcoming Apple, Jobs, Computer Hardware sale, which starts at 6:00 PM EDT on August 24, 2023. The 75-lot sale samples from the Apple company’s long history, with rare prototypes and factory-sealed items among the highlights. Here are some of the top Apple products available in this event.

Apple-1 Computer 

A fully-operational Apple-1 computer from 1976 leads the RR Auction catalog (lot #5011; estimate: USD 200,000 – $400,000). The Apple-1 was the first product officially manufactured by the Apple Computer Company. Marketed toward computer hobbyists, it was a bare circuit board that lacked essential parts such as a keyboard and monitor. Modest sales of the Apple-1 prompted Wozniak and Jobs to seek further investment in their company and launch the next generation of computers, the Apple II. 

The available Apple-1 computer comes to auction with its original NTI board and Apple Cassette interface, a period custom-built case and keyboard, and a modern replica of the Apple-1 Operation Manual. Steve Wozniak signed the prototype area in 2017.

Apple II Computer

Another historically important Apple product in the upcoming RR Auction event is an Apple II computer from 1977 (lot #5014; estimate: $2,000 – $3,000). This computer differed significantly from its predecessor. The Apple II computer was designed to run straight out of the box, with a TV interface and keyboard built-in. Steve Jobs intended the product to be used by ordinary people in their homes and offices. As a result, the Apple II helped launch the modern home computer market and revolutionized technology. Apple sold millions of Apple II computers over the course of 20 years. 

The available Apple II computer has been signed by Steve Wozniak and features a colorful Apple II badge on the top. It comes to auction in mostly original condition, with some replacement parts in the motherboard and power supply.

Apple Lisa 2/10 Computer

By the 1980s, the Apple company had gone public, and its creators were millionaires. A critical development happened in 1979. A group of Apple employees visited Xerox’s research division to seek new ideas for computer products. During the visit, they witnessed a graphical user interface (GUI) in action. This development would allow computer users to more easily interact with technology, introducing the now-ubiquitous mouse, icon, and window. Apple employees incorporated a GUI into the Apple Lisa model, which publicly launched in 1983. It was a commercial failure due to its high price and unreliable features. However, the Apple Lisa set the stage for the highly-successful Macintosh line of personal computers, which would come to define the company. 

Available in this sale is a working Apple Lisa 2/10 computer with its original box, keyboard, and mouse (lot #5012; estimate: $10,000 – $15,000). The Lisa 2/10 was a later addition to the Lisa line, and it included numerous technological fixes and improvements. It was later rebranded as the Macintosh XL.

Apple Newton MessagePad 

Following the success of Apple’s personal computers, the 1980s and 90s saw a rising tide of technological innovations. Apple created increasingly compact and portable Macs, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and other products that were compatible with the World Wide Web. An Apple Newton MessagePad 2100 from this era is available in the upcoming RR Auction sale with an estimate of $200 to $400 (lot #5029). The MessagePad was one of the first PDAs to recognize natural handwriting, receive fax messages, and utilize early artificial intelligence. 

Apple iPhone 

In the early 2000s, a new wave of Apple products revolutionized the tech industry. Apple introduced the first iPod in 2001, followed by the massively profitable iTunes Store in 2003. And in 2007, Steve Jobs unveiled the first-generation iPhone to the public. It was the first mobile telephone to incorporate multi-touch technology and prompted the acceptance of phones as handheld computers. The iPhone remains Apple’s best-selling product today. 

Available with RR Auction this August is an unopened first-generation iPhone, Model A1203, in its factory-sealed condition (lot #5033; estimate: $20,000 – $40,000). The original owner was an Apple employee who received the iPhone as a gift from the company. It remained in storage for years before coming to auction. 

Live bidding for the Apple, Jobs, Computer Hardware event from RR Auction will begin at 6:00 PM EDT on August 24, 2023. To view the complete catalog and register to bid, visit Bidsquare. Find additional coverage of this event on Auction Daily.