A rare Apple-1 computer from the 1970s that was designed by Steve Wozniak and built by Steve Jobs in his home just sold at auction for $400,000
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One of the first Apple computers ever made has sold for hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction.
An Apple-1 computer changed hands Tuesday when it was auctioned off for $400,000.
The device is one of 200 Apple-1 computers designed by company co-founder Steve Wozniak, according to the listing at John Moran Auctioneers. The computers were tested and put together by late CEO Steve Jobs, his sister Patty Jobs, and early Apple employee Daniel Kottke.
This Apple-1 comes with a Koa wood case, one of just six ones known to exist. It has only had two previous owners. An electronics professor at Chaffey College in California was the first to buy it, and he sold it to one of his students for $650 in 1977, according to the auction listing. Because of its previous ownership, this device is listed in the official registry of Apple-1 computers as "Chaffey College Apple-1."
"This is kind of the holy grail for vintage electronics and computer tech collectors," said Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen to the Los Angeles Times. Cohen also told the Times that around 60 Apple-1 computers still exist, of which only 20 still function.
The computer had been estimated to pull in a bid of between $400,000 and $600,000, according to its listing.
Previously, 175 of the computers were sold for $666.66, a price decided with Wozniak's fondness for repeating numbers in mind. Of these, 50 were sold to Paul Terrell, the man behind one of the world's first computer stores, Byte Shop, according to the listing.
The computer has "recently undergone an extensive authentication, restoration, and evaluation process by one of the foremost experts in the field," according to the listing, and it comes with proof of professional authentication.
