Working Apple 1 Computer With Original Packaging to Be Auctioned

Tuesday October 15, 2013 10:13 AM PDT by Juli Clover
A working Apple 1 Computer that comes equipped with its original white cardboard box will be auctioned by German auction house Breker on November 16, and it is estimated to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000. The unit, which is one of only a handful in existence, is number “46” of 50 original hand-built computers sold by Apple’s first retailer, The Byte Shop.

apple1
"No. 46" is one of very few Apple 1s still in working order, as well as the only known example in its original box! A scarce photograph of the bedroom in Jobs’ parental house shows a stack of identical boxes of the first order of 50 units.
In addition to its original packaging and original software, the Apple 1 features a signature from original Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who designed and built each computer. Each Apple 1 originally sold for $666.66, and approximately 200 total units were produced with few remaining in functional condition today.

The Apple 1 itself is a fully assembled circuit board with more than 60 chips, designed to be enhanced with the addition of a case, keyboard, display, and power components.

Earlier this year, in May, Breker auctioned another working Apple 1 computer that fetched $671,400 at auction, breaking a previous record of $640,000 set in November of 2012. With functional components and the original packaging, number 46 could fetch a similar price.

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Jessica Lares
72 months ago

Who is buying these and why on earth would someone want to pay so much for them? You can't do anything with it except stick it on a shelf to gather dust or stick it in a museum to gather dust. Either way it seems such a waste of money but I guess if you've got money to burn like this that probably doesn't even enter the equation. If I had that kind of money to spend on something frivolous I'd rather have a sports car or a yacht. I can't see an old Apple 1 attracting the babes.


It's history. :rolleyes:

And it would attract me. :o
Rating: 11 Votes
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keysofanxiety
72 months ago

Who is buying these and why on earth would someone want to pay so much for them? You can't do anything with it except stick it on a shelf to gather dust or stick it in a museum to gather dust. Either way it seems such a waste of money but I guess if you've got money to burn like this that probably doesn't even enter the equation. If I had that kind of money to spend on something frivolous I'd rather have a sports car or a yacht. I can't see an old Apple 1 attracting the babes.


You've definitely missed the point. You could use the same argument about people who buy old records and never play them, buy pieces of art and never fully 'appreciate' them, buy old cars and never drive them.

To own a genuine, rare piece of history is a very special feeling. I'd personally be more horrified if somebody told me they had an Apple I, and used it for 30 years until it became a wreck.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Shaun, UK
72 months ago
Who is buying these and why on earth would someone want to pay so much for them? You can't do anything with it except stick it on a shelf to gather dust or stick it in a museum to gather dust. Either way it seems such a waste of money but I guess if you've got money to burn like this that probably doesn't even enter the equation. If I had that kind of money to spend on something frivolous I'd rather have a sports car or a yacht. I can't see an old Apple 1 attracting the babes.
Rating: 3 Votes
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gorskiegangsta
72 months ago

Who is buying these and why on earth would someone want to pay so much for them? You can't do anything with it except stick it on a shelf to gather dust or stick it in a museum to gather dust. Either way it seems such a waste of money but I guess if you've got money to burn like this that probably doesn't even enter the equation. If I had that kind of money to spend on something frivolous I'd rather have a sports car or a yacht. I can't see an old Apple 1 attracting the babes.


Well, why on earth would someone pay millions of dollars for an old, Da Vinci or Van Gogh painting? Could it possibly be because of its aesthetic and/or historical significance? :rolleyes:
Rating: 3 Votes
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dumastudetto
72 months ago
The Apple 1 to this day is still better than any Windows powered PC. :D It looks beautiful too.
Rating: 2 Votes
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mdelvecchio
72 months ago

No offense to Woz - but his signature doesn't really bring much value to anything. It seems like it's pretty easy to get him to sign just about anything apple related.


the man was singularly the hardware genius behind the first couple apple computers, which completely revolutionized the PC business. he's a living legend.

watch Triumph of the Nerds:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Nerds

and spend some time here:

http://folklore.org/ProjectView.py?project=Macintosh&characters=Steve%20Wozniak&detail=medium
Rating: 2 Votes
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Diode
72 months ago
No offense to Woz - but his signature doesn't really bring much value to anything. It seems like it's pretty easy to get him to sign just about anything apple related.

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You've definitely missed the point. You could use the same argument about people who buy old records and never play them, buy pieces of art and never fully 'appreciate' them, buy old cars and never drive them.

To own a genuine, rare piece of history is a very special feeling. I'd personally be more horrified if somebody told me they had an Apple I, and used it for 30 years until it became a wreck.


I'm going to seriously high-five the person I meet would would be willing to drive a Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder whenever the weather was nice enough for the top to be down. (For those that don't know cars it's now the most valuable ferrari at $29+mil).

While I fully understand the collectable aspect of something like this at this point in time, to purposely completely ignore it while it still had utility is stupid.
Rating: 2 Votes
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noodlemanc
72 months ago

Who is buying these and why on earth would someone want to pay so much for them? You can't do anything with it except stick it on a shelf to gather dust or stick it in a museum to gather dust. Either way it seems such a waste of money but I guess if you've got money to burn like this that probably doesn't even enter the equation. If I had that kind of money to spend on something frivolous I'd rather have a sports car or a yacht. I can't see an old Apple 1 attracting the babes.


The kind of person who will pay 500K for an Apple 1 could probably buy all three without making a significant dent in his or her wallet ;)
Rating: 1 Votes
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Steve121178
72 months ago

The Apple 1 to this day is still better than any Windows powered PC.


Yeah ok.

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No offense to Woz - but his signature doesn't really bring much value to anything.


Are you kidding? He is one of the founders of Apple. Without him Apple wouldn't exist.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Rocco83
72 months ago
Wonder if the Apple Care warranty on it is transferrable? If so I might be interested..
Rating: 1 Votes
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