In a landmark event for technology enthusiasts and collectors, a vast trove of personal items belonging to the late Steve Jobs and some of Apple Inc.'s earliest products has been put up for auction. This sale comes as the iconic tech giant approaches its 50th anniversary, which will be marked on April 1, 2026.
Historic Apple Artefacts and Personal Memorabilia
The auction, managed by RR Auction, features a total of 191 unique lots that span the co-founder's early years and the company's formative period in the mid-1970s. Bidding for this exclusive collection is open and will conclude on January 29.
Among the most significant historical documents is the first known cheque issued by Apple Computer, Inc. Dated March 16, 1976, and signed by both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the cheque for $500 was made payable to Howard Cantin. Cantin was the designer of the printed circuit board for the revolutionary Apple-1 computer. This cheque predates Apple's official incorporation, making it a foundational artefact of the Silicon Valley legend.
The auction also boasts the earliest known prototype motherboard for the Apple-1 computer, alongside other rare hardware from the era before the Macintosh. Early bidding activity has already driven prices for some items into the tens of thousands of dollars, with experts anticipating final sums to reach much higher.
A Journey Through Apple's Evolution
The collection meticulously charts Apple's journey from a garage startup to a global powerhouse. It includes a functional Lisa-1 computer, a critical machine that paved the way for the Macintosh line. From a much later era, a first-generation iPhone that was famously jailbroken by teenage hacker George Hotz is also part of the sale.
The Personal World of a Young Steve Jobs
Adding an intimate layer to the sale are numerous items from Steve Jobs' childhood and teenage years. These personal effects were provided to the auction house by his stepbrother, John Chovanec. The collection includes:
- Bowties worn by a young Jobs.
- Bob Dylan 8-track tapes, reflecting his musical tastes.
- The original wooden desk from his bedroom in the Los Altos, California home—the same house famous for its garage where Apple was born.
- Components from Jobs' own Apple-1 computer.
- Hand-annotated car repair manuals.
- A short, handwritten note to his father on an early Apple business card.
To complete the historical picture, the auction features original Apple marketing posters from the 1970s and 1980s, internal company documents, and various ephemera from its earliest days. This auction offers a unprecedented, tangible record of both Apple's origins and the personal life of its visionary co-founder. Interest in the collection is expected to intensify as the company's 50th-anniversary year draws nearer.
