Ever since the 1970s, Jonathan Knowles had been drawn to computers. His passion was unwavering, and just like most young computer scientists at the time, he was enamored with Apple and Steve Jobs.
Even after settling into a life outside the industry working in academia, his love for computers never dimmed, and he was intrigued by the application of computing at the cross-section of other scientific pursuits. In the late 1980s, he spoke at Apple higher education events.
When asked if he wanted to join the company in the mid-1990s, he thought, “Why not?”
On his first day, Knowles met with then-CEO John Sculley, who he asked to sign his new employee T-shirt, which Knowles still has today, in addition to the business card Sculley handed him, which listed his position as “chief listener.”
Then, in 1997, Jobs returned to Apple to take on the position of CEO once again.
As luck would have it for Knowles, a self-described “Jobs fanboy,” he would begin to work closely with the Apple co-founder as a product manager for QuickTime.
“Steve had liked the way I thought about getting the world to go ‘wow’,” Knowles told cllct. “He liked the generative creativity.”
This mutual respect and compatibility allowed Knowles to enter Jobs’ inner circle of trust.
Of course, the legend of Jobs as a difficult boss is a part of his most well-known traits, but Knowles said he felt the Jobs he worked with had matured since the early days.
“Steve really had learned a lot after the firing at Apple and the next years,” Knowles said. “And so I think honestly, if I were to have met Steve back in the ‘80s, when he was still at Apple, I probably would have walked away one of those guys who is sad he met his hero.”
On his five-year anniversary at Apple, Knowles received a plaque signed and inscribed by Jobs: “This certificate of recognition is given to those who have played a major role in the building of Apple's phenomenal success. During the past five years you have given to Apple your talents, enthusiasm, and energy. We hope you share our feeling that the journey is the reward.”
That plaque is now set to sell at RR Auction next week, with a pre-sale estimate of $10,000. That estimate has already been passed, with buyer’s premium, with eight days remaining.
Within a year or two, those awards were no longer signed by Jobs, instead using facsimile signatures, meaning Knowles’ plaque was one of the last with the technologist’s authentic autograph.
Knowles unequivocally considers himself a collector, though for many of his Apple mementos, some of which — like a MacWorld #1 signed by Jobs — he has sold through the years, he seems to think about them as more of a keepsake, something he enjoys showing friends and keeping around to remind him of his incredible journey.
“I'll just pick up some object laying around, a coffee cup, and I'll hand it to him. I'll say, ‘Steve Jobs gave me this coffee cup’. And they hold it. They take it with reverence.”
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.