An Apple 1 computer from Steve Jobs’ desk sold for $945,000 at Christie’s on Tuesday afternoon, a record for any Apple 1 computer. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $500,000 to $800,000.
The computer, described as taken directly from the desk of Jobs before entering into the collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, is one of just 200 of the first computers ever built by Steve Wozniak and Jobs at the genesis of Apple in 1976.
After spending countless hours attending meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, California, the duo was inspired to create their own PC. Wozniak led the charge, passing around early schematics to fellow club members and even making free house visits to help friends build their own.
Then Apple Computers was formed in April 1976. In need of funding, Wozniak sold his HP-65 calculator, and Jobs cashed in his van, together raising around $1,300 to begin assembling the first boards of what would become the Apple 1 in Jobs’ bedroom.
Wozniak hand-built all 200 of the original Apple 1 computers, a barebones machine meant for serious techies. They priced the computers at $666.66, selling all but 25 of their units.
As an incomparable example of the origins of the computing revolution, these machines have become rare and valuable collectibles in recent years. One sold for more than $900,000 in 2014.
Today, it’s believed around 70 verified Apple 1 computers exist, according to the Apple 1 registry. It’s one of even fewer in working condition.
This example, used as a demo model by Jobs and said to be taken from his office around 1985, was acquired around 2005 by Allen for an undisclosed sum. It was later exhibited in The Living Computers: Museum + Labs museum in Seattle. The institution called it “the most important computer in history” in 2017.
Despite the two visionary’s parallel paths, they had never met until an evening in 2017 at the museum.
The most recent Apple 1 to sell publicly ended at $323,789 at RR Auctions in March 2024. RR previously sold Jobs’ original Apple 1 prototype, hand-soldered by Wozniak, for $677,196 in August 2022.
Demand for Apple and Jobs-related memorabilia has soared in recent years. A Jobs-signed business card and check sold for $181,183 and $176,850, respectively — both records — earlier this year.
A sealed original iPhone set a record when it fetched more than $190,000 in 2023.
Other items, such as Jobs’ personally-owned Birkenstocks, sold for $218,750 in 2022 while an Apple II manual inscribed by Jobs with the words "Go Change The World!" went for $787,484 in 2021.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.