In commemoration of Apple Inc's upcoming 50th anniversary, an auction featuring some of the company’s rarest memorabilia and personal items related to Steve Jobs, the co-founder and former CEO, has attracted notable interest from collectors and enthusiasts alike. Hosted by RR Auctions, the event highlights pivotal artifacts associated with the beginnings of Apple, illustrating both the company’s origins and Jobs' personal legacy.
Early Financial Artifacts Marking Apple’s Founding
Among the most prominent pieces offered is the first-ever Apple Computer check dated March 16, 1976. Signed by both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, this historic financial document was made out to Howard Cantin, the designer of the Apple-1 printed circuit board, for $500. Notably, this check predates Apple’s official founding date of April 1, 1976, serving as a tangible marker of the company’s embryonic stage. The check bears the number one, underscoring its status as the very first in Apple’s checkbook. This artifact has received a PSA Mint 9 grading, which is the second highest grade awarded by the Professional Sports Authenticator, indicating its excellent preservation status. While the auction house anticipated a $500,000 pre-auction valuation, bids have currently reached $236,832, demonstrating substantial interest but leaving room for potential growth.
Complementing this item is another early financial instrument, Check No. 181, which is connected with Apple’s first seed investor, Elmer Baum. Dated July 13, 1976, this $125 check also includes Steve Jobs’ signature and is understood to be related to a 5% quarterly accrual fee on a loan Baum provided. Baum’s initial $5,000 investment was crucial in financing Apple’s first batch of Apple-1 computers, and Jobs has credited Baum’s support as essential to the company’s survival during its formative period. The check reflects a period’s financial operations connected to Baum’s loan repayment, with Baum’s son having been a friend of Jobs and Wozniak.
Further solidifying the financial history of Apple is a March 1976 Wells Fargo account statement, marking the company’s earliest known financial record. Pertinent to the month ending March 31, 1976, this document shows the establishment of Apple’s bank account alongside initial deposits totalling $840. It also details the first six checks issued by the company, including the ones described above. This record dramatically predates Apple’s formal registration date, illustrating the startup’s activity in its nascent weeks. The present high bid for this item is approximately $17,717.
Significant Physical Artifacts from Apple’s Formative Phase
The auction further features an early fiberglass prototype of the Apple-1 computer, representing a critical milestone during product development. This particular prototype is believed to date from March or April 1976 and was instrumental in validating early bulk orders for Apple’s first product. Holding key significance in the company’s technological lineage, this prototype has attracted a top bid of $135,000, with RR Auctions estimating a pre-auction value of $500,000.
Another remarkable offering is the boyhood bedroom desk used by Steve Jobs at the property known as the Apple Garage, the legendary birthplace of Apple. This desk carries significant provenance as it includes Jobs' personal documents from before the company’s inception, such as Atari papers, Hewlett-Packard manuals, and a 1971 wage and tax statement showing Jobs earned $1,080. Originating from the collection of Jobs’ stepbrother John Chovanec, the desk offers a rare glimpse into Jobs’ early personal and professional life. The current leading bid stands at $59,268, exceeding its pre-auction estimate of $25,000.
Diverse Collection of Memorabilia Amplifies Auction Appeal
The auction includes close to 200 items, spanning various price points and collector interests. Beyond the major artifacts, the collection features unique items such as 8-track tapes owned by Jobs with recordings from artists like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, as well as Apple promotional posters personally possessed by the co-founder. Additionally, the sale offers bow ties from Jobs’ childhood home, contributing to the varied and personal nature of the memorabilia on offer.
As Apple approaches its 50th anniversary on April 1, 2026, interest in acquiring rare and historically important memorabilia is anticipated to increase throughout the year, adding significance to this auction event.