Apple 1 computer crushes auction estimates
Memo written by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs also sold for high price
A fully functioning Apple 1 computer was sold at auction for the staggering sum of $374,500 today. The device was the company’s first product and just one of 200 to ever be produced. Original estimates by Sotheby’s, the auctioneer of the item, had it selling for $120,000 — $180,000.
Apple 1 computer front.
Close-up of Apple 1 computer front.
Back of Apple 1 computer.
The Apple 1 computers were hand-built by Apple’s co-founder Steve Wozniak. They originally sold for $666.66 as fully assembled circuit boards (Wozniak said that they settled on that odd price quote “because it was just an easier way to type”).
It is widely speculated that there are only 50 Apple 1 computers left. The auctioned model was one of the few known to still work.
According to Sotheby’s, there was a battle between two parties for the computer. A set of bids were executed by the auctioneer on behalf of an absentee collector, but it was a very persistent telephone bidder who eventually clinched the sale.
The identities of all parties involved have not yet been revealed.
Steve Jobs memos also sold
Also sold today was a memo Steve Job wrote in 1974 when he was employed by Atari. It consisted of four pages and detailed Jobs’ thoughts on how the company could improve its arcade soccer game, “World Cup.”
Letter written by Steve Jobs when he was employed by Atari.
Full Steve Jobs memo package sold by Sotheby’s.
Jobs was just 19 years old when he wrote the memo, which consisted of circuit drawings and diagrams showing how the paddle-based game could be improved so that it was more fun to play.
At the end of the memo, Jobs stamped the papers with his Los Altos home address and concluded with the Buddhist mantra: “gate gate paragate parasangate bodhi svahdl”.
Translation: “Going, going, going on beyond, always going on beyond, always becoming Buddha.”
According to the auction company, there were at least three bidders for the notes. Original estimates were slated at $10,000 — $15,000; they sold for $27,500.
These are just the latest in a series of Steve Jobs-related items to be auctioned off for unbelievably high prices: back in December 2011, Apple’s founding papers—which contained Steve Jobs’ signature, sold at auction for approximately $1.6m. ■
Images via: sothebys.com
Story via: bbc.co.uk
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