Posted on August 28th, 2012 by David Bayon

How much will this Apple-1 computer sell for?

A former Apple employee is putting a rare Apple-1 computer up for auction in October.

The Apple-1 system, serial number 22, is being made available from the estate of former employee Joe Copson, and is expected to fetch between £50,000 and £80,000 at Christie’s in London.

Hand-built in 1976 by Steve Wozniak, only 200 Apple-1 machines were assembled and sold, without casing or peripherals, for $666.66. It is estimated that fewer than 50 exist today.

It’s not the first time a rare Apple-1 has been put up for auction. In November 2010 a computer with a signed sales letter from Steve Jobs sold for $210,000 (£133,250).

And in June this year a rare operational Apple-1 sold for a record $374,500 (£240,929).

Only 200 Apple-1 computers were originally made, in Steve Jobs’ parents’ garage by Steve Wozniak’s own hands. Way back in 1976 they shipped each one themselves and randomly chose a price of $666.66. The Apple-1 didn’t even have a case, a screen or a keyboard – it was little more than a circuit board.

But with only 50 believed to still exist, original Apple-1 computers fetch big bucks at auction. In November 2010 an Apple-1 in its original packaging and with a signed sales letter from Steve Jobs sold for $210,000 (£133,250). The buyer said he would restore it to working order and put it in his collection of Apple devices.

Then in June this year a rare, operational Apple-1 sold for a record $374,500 (£240,929), a sign of just how keen buyers are to get their hands on Apple memorabilia since Steve Jobs passed away.

Now, a former Apple employee is putting his original Apple-1 computer up for auction. The system, serial number 22, is being made available from the estate of former employee Joe Copson to Christie’s in London:

Lot 73
AN APPLE 1 PERSONAL COMPUTER
Palo Alto, 1976
the motherboard numbered on the reverse 01-0022 in black ink, printed circuit board marked Apple Computer 1 Palo Alto, Ca 1976 with 4 rows A-D and columns 1-18, three capacitors, heatsink, cassette board connector, keyboard interface, firmware in PROMS, white 6502 microprocessor; with Apple cassette interface card lettered G within triangle in black ink manuscript to reverse, and case containing circuitry for keyboard.
15.1/2in. (39.5cm.)

Although Christie’s staff haven’t had the system up and running, they believe it will be possible to restore it.

How much will this one fetch? Christie’s estimate between £50,000 and £80,000, but as previous auctions show anything can happen. How much do you think it’s worth?

Tags: apple, Apple-1

Posted in: Hardware

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9 Responses to “ How much will this Apple-1 computer sell for? ”

Bassey Says:
August 28th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
“How much do you think it’s worth?”

It’s WORTH about tuppence ha’penny but it will probably sell for well over £100k
rvboutin Says:
August 28th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
it’s an antique piece… worth whatever some crazy guy is ready to pay for it… too much for what it is anyway, like the price of current Apple devices!! LOL
soldinio Says:
August 28th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Maybe Samsung should bid…

Give them some more product ideas
Damian Says:
August 28th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
“How much will this Apple-1 computer sell for?”

£40. I’d pay for an Acorn Electron or BBC Micro.
Mike Walsh Says:
August 29th, 2012 at 9:33 am
>Now, a former Apple employee is >putting his original Apple-1 >computer up for auction.

Given that it is the estate of this guy that is selling this, it’s an interesting concept to say that “a former Apple employee” is selling. Former indeed.

I’m now waiting for a former Prime Minister to sell the original Gladstone bag.
Synaptic Fire Says:
August 30th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Maybe PC Pro should do a sweepstake. Everyone guesses, closest gets an iPad. Or a generic (read straight from the pound shop) iDevice charging cable, whatever the budget stretches to.

I’ll go for £256.971
Vimto Says:
August 30th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Hmm, wonder what the Apple IIe I’ve got in the loft is worth …
PeteBy Says:
August 31st, 2012 at 12:49 am
I have an Apple II with two 5 1/4″ disk drives, with an internal bus card for 80 columns per page (and what a size that is!) and it used to drive a specially altered Sony colour TV….ah! computing was fun in those days (1980 ish). The first offer of £250k will secure it!!! (as if).
Andy Says:
August 31st, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@PeteBy: I have one of those as well. I think the only possible value it will have is way after my death. Perhaps it would pay for a conservatory on one of my kids’ houses – when they’re in their 90s.