In a recent auction held by Boston-based RR Auction, one of the first personal computers built by Apple and signed by co-founder Steve Wozniak has been sold for a whopping US$223,000 (RM1.03mil). The Apple-1, which has been fully restored and comes with a custom case featuring a built-in keyboard, was expected to fetch around US$200,000 (RM1.02mil).
Originally manufactured in Steve Jobs’ garage in Los Altos, California, between 1976 and 1977, approximately 200 Apple-1 computers were produced. These computers played a crucial role in launching the company, which recently achieved a market value of US$3 trillion (RM13.95 trillion) and became the first publicly traded business to reach this milestone.
The Apple-1 that was sold at the auction was signed by Wozniak himself during an event at Bryant University in 2017. It was initially purchased at a computer hobbyist show in Framingham, Massachusetts, in 1980 and remained in use throughout the 1980s. Earlier this year, Apple expert Corey Cohen restored it to an operational state.
The buyer of the Apple-1 wishes to remain anonymous, according to RR Auction. Additionally, an original handwritten advertisement for the Apple-1 Computer, penned by Steve Jobs, was also sold at the same auction for nearly US$176,000 (RM818,664). Furthermore, an Apple company check signed by both Jobs and Wozniak in 1976 fetched over US$135,000 (RM627,952).
This auction showcases the enduring popularity and historical significance of these early Apple artifacts, which continue to captivate collectors and technology enthusiasts alike.