Apple's Original Corporate Papers Heading to Auction, Could Fetch $150,000

apple computer contract signatures
Bloomberg reports that Sotheby's is preparing to auction off the original three-page document that served as the contract among Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ron Wayne to establish Apple Computer on April 1st, 1976. The auction, set for December 13th, is predicted to see the document fetch $100,000 to $150,000.

“This is a foundation document in terms of financial history, social history and technological history,” said Richard Austin, the head of books and manuscripts at Sotheby’s in New York.

Additional papers documenting Ron Wayne's withdrawal as a partner just 12 days after the company was formed are also included in the auction package. Wayne initially received $800 for his 10% share of the company, and later received an additional $1,500 payment.

apple computer contract papers
According to Sotheby's, Wayne sold the documents to a manuscript dealer at some point before another party acquired them in the mid-1990s as Apple appeared close to bankruptcy before Jobs returned to the company. That party has now decided to sell the documents given the recent publicity about Jobs following his death and the release of his authorized biography.

The Sotheby's auction of "fine books and manuscripts" includes over 350 separate lots, with the $100,000-$150,000 estimate for the Apple documents ranking in a tie for third with a 1733 map of America. The most valuable lot is predicted to be a 1789 letter from George Washington, which is estimated to sell for $300,000-$500,000.

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Top Rated Comments

yomibro Avatar
172 months ago
Apple should purchase the documents, frame them and make it as a permanent display in their new spaceship HQ.
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tonynz Avatar
172 months ago
Pawn Stars will buy it for $50
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chenks Avatar
172 months ago
Pawn Stars will buy it for $50

only after they've brought in a buddy expert to take a look at them first of course.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThunderSkunk Avatar
172 months ago
Saw a recent interview with Wayne. He was nothing but realistic about his having given away his share of Apple. It made sense at the time, so he did it, felt no regrets, and is quite genuinely happy to see the boys become as successful as they did. Good-natured guy, a rarity among bazillionares.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
miles01110 Avatar
172 months ago
Could Fetch $150,000

It could fetch $150,000,000 if there's a dumb enough buyer.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
FakeWozniak Avatar
172 months ago
Ron Wayne, April 12th, 1976, "Cool!, $800!"
Ron Wayne, November 28th, 2011, "Doh!"
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)