Working Apple-1 ‘Byte Shop’ computer set to fetch $375,000 • The Register

A “clean and unused” Apple 1 prototype that actually works has been auctioned off by Curpertino relic purveyor RR Auctions.

Pic RR Auctions

What is special about this piece, as the auctioneers would say, is that Steve Jobs had inscribed the stock number ’01-00002′ on the plaque and that the ink on the plaque has been confirmed to be from his handwriting, which is all quite normal and customary in the world of auctions and not at all weird like many Registration number readers might think. We know that many of you only appreciate signatures on checks, loan agreements or letters from your loved ones, but you clearly don’t understand the historical significance.

Jobs — who, in the words of Apple expert Corey Cohen, was “always trying to make money” and “often…got Woz.” [Apple 1 designer Steve Wozniak] helping out at night so he can boast about his work the next day” was not known to have taken the time and effort to number them himself. The fact that he did, however, is a “latest revelation at Apple -1 world”, according to the auctioneers.

Apple’s computer expert and tech historian Cohen himself got the thing up and running after an impressive restoration in 2018, and the system ran again “for about eight hours without error” in an extensive test in August 2022, says RR Auctions.

The purchaser would also receive an original Apple Cassette Interface, the Apple-1 Instruction Manual, two original ACI manuals, a period ASCII keyboard, a Sanyo 4205 video monitor, a power supply with an original Apple-1 power cable and connector, and “Period” Cassette Interface Cable.

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Bids were $241,577 at the time of writing, but auctioneers expect to sell the item for $375,000+ with an earlier prototype that was very unclean and unused – it was actually quite dingy and featured a massive crack on the racetrack – sold earlier this year for well over half a million dollars.

According to the AP, this prototype was purchased by an anonymous Bay Area collector for $677,196, inflated in value because Steve Wozniak hand-soldered the board using his questionable technique of lip-to-lip soldering, a method that has been proven has proven through a lot of flack Registration number Reader.

Click to enlarge to see item number. Pic RR Auctions

Other Apple memorabilia on the block at the auction house include a fully working N1000 NeXT Computer, circa 1988, with Workstation MegaPixel Display, a laser printer and original packaging, with bids starting at $3,328, and a NeXT Computer brochure that Jobs signed when he was at a tech lunch in Pittsburgh. The bid for the latter is currently $4,638. Better not leaf through the thing (arguably the most interesting thing to do with it, so you can check out the full-color repros of the system board and memory components in the booklet). If you do, the value will fall through the floor. It was encapsulated in a thick plastic holder to keep Jobs’ signature intact. ®