Technology giant Apple approaches its 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026. Collectors now focus their attention on a special auction event. This auction features some of the rarest artifacts from Apple's early days. Items include Steve Jobs' "Check No. 1" and personal belongings from the legendary co-founder.
Strong Bidding Interest Emerges
RR Auctions hosts the event titled "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction." The auction showcases nearly 200 items connected to Apple's formative years and Jobs' personal life. Bidding has already generated strong interest. Many pieces have surpassed their auction estimates already.
Apple Check No. 1 (1976)
The very first Apple Computer check dates to March 16, 1976. Both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak signed this historic document. Issued to Howard Cantin, the designer of the Apple-1 circuit board, the check amounts to $500. It predates Apple's official founding on April 1, 1976. Graded PSA Mint 9, it carries a pre-auction estimate of $500,000. Current bids have reached $236,832.
Check No. 181 to Seed Investor Elmer Baum
Another historic check bears the date July 13, 1976. This $125 check features Jobs' signature. It represents repayment to Apple's first seed investor. Baum's $5,000 loan proved critical for financing the Apple-1. Jobs once acknowledged this contribution. He stated, "Without that, we wouldn't have made it."
Apple's First Financial Record
A Wells Fargo account statement from March 1976 shows initial deposits of $840. It also displays the first six checks written by the company. Experts consider this document Apple's earliest financial record. Current bids stand at $17,717 for this piece of history.
Apple-1 Computer Prototype
The earliest known fiberglass prototype used to validate the Apple-1 is available. Auctioneers estimate its value at $500,000. Bidding has already reached $135,000 for this significant technological artifact.
Steve Jobs' Bedroom Desk from the Apple Garage
Perhaps the most personal item in the auction is Jobs' desk from the famous Apple Garage. The desk includes Atari papers, HP manuals, and his 1971 wage statement. It comes from the collection of Jobs' stepbrother John Chovanec. The desk has already surpassed its $25,000 estimate. Current bids have reached $59,268.
Additional Memorabilia Highlights
The auction features several other notable items. These include Jobs' personal 8-track tapes of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. Various Apple posters and bow ties from his boyhood home also appear in the collection. Each piece offers a glimpse into the personal life of the technology pioneer.
Collectors and technology enthusiasts eagerly follow the auction proceedings. These artifacts provide tangible connections to Apple's humble beginnings. They remind us of the company's remarkable journey over five decades.
