The Facts
Bonhams sold the 'Hatfield' Apple-1 computer for $1.15 million, setting a world auction record for a commercially sold Apple-1. The sale closed on October 14 after a 28-minute bidding war between two bidders. The computer, built by Steve Wozniak in 1976, is signed by Wozniak on the motherboard and accompanied by a 1978 letter signed by Steve Jobs to the original owner, Fred Hatfield. It is listed as No. 48 on the Apple-1 Registry and is one of fewer than 75 verified Apple-1 computers known to survive.
The Signal
The result underscores the enduring market for iconic technology artifacts, particularly those with direct provenance to Apple's founders. The combination of Wozniak's signature and Jobs's letter elevates this example above other Apple-1 computers, attracting spirited competition. For collectors, it reinforces the value of early computing history as a distinct collecting category within the broader history of science and technology.
- People: Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, Ian Ehling, Fred Hatfield
- Auction Houses: Bonhams
- Locations: New York
- Prices: $1.15 million
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