A rare, functional Apple-1 computer, known as the Hatfield Apple-1, was recently auctioned by Bonhams during Apple's 50th anniversary year. The machine features a signature from co-founder Steve Wozniak and a 1978 letter from Steve Jobs addressed to the original owner, Fred Hatfield.
From a $500 Byte Shop order to an $800,000 estimate
The transition of the Apple-1 from a garage prototype to a high-value collectible is stark. In the mid-1970s, the machine was a fledgling product, with Byte Shop—one of the first computer retailers—placing an order for 50 units at just $500 each. This era, defined by Jobs and Wozniak building hardware in a garage using funds from a sold Volkswagen, stands in total contrast to the modern auction market.
The historical significance of the devcie traces back to June 29, 1975,a date Wozniak identified in his memoir, iWoz, as the moment a character first appeared on a screen via a keyboard. As reported by the auction house, the Hatfield Apple-1 carried an estimate between $500,000 and $800,000, reflecting how the pereived value of Silicon Valley's origins has scaled alongside the industry itself.
Wozniak’s motherboard signature and the 1978 Jobs letter
The Hatfield Apple-1 is uniquely distinguished by its direct connection to Apple's founders.. Steve Wozniak signed the motherboard, which remains fully functional, providing a tangible link to the man who built the machine in 1976. This signature, combined with the machine's operational status, sets it apart from many other surviving units.
Additionally, the lot included a 1978 letter signed by Steve Jobs to the original owner, Fred Hatfield, which offered him a trade-in upgrade to the newly released Apple II. According to Bonhams, the sale also featured the original operations manual, a typed invitation to the Apple I Owners Club, and various hardware components. This documentation provides a clear provenance that links the machine to the era when the Apple II was debuting at the West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco.
The rarity of Registry No. 48 among 75 survivors
Scarcity is the primary driver of the machine's valuation. The Hatfield Apple-1 is officially listed as No. 48 on the Apple-1 Registry, placing it within a tiny group of fewer than 75 verified Apple-1 computers known to exist today. This extreme rarity, combined with the documented history of the Hatfield family ownership,makes the unit a standout among the few surviving examples of the hardware that launched the personal computing age.
The unrevealed hammer price of the Registry No. 48 unit
Despite the successful auction, several details remain unverified. While Bonhams director Ian Ehling expressed delight at the "exceptional result" for the machine, describing it as one of the most important milestones in computing history, the report does not disclose the final hammer price. furthermore, the identity of the buyer—whether a private collector or a tech institution—remains unknown.
Comments 0