Collectors around the world pushed bidding to record levels during a landmark Steve Jobs auction that generated more than $8 million in sales. The event celebrated the early days of Apple and highlighted items tied directly to the company’s founding. Among the most notable pieces was what experts call the earliest known check written from Apple’s original bank account. That single document sold for $2.4 million.
Auction officials described the check as a defining artifact of Apple’s origin story. Executives at the auction house said the document captures the first real financial step taken by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak as business partners. Because of that significance, bidders treated it as a museum-level collectible.
Rare Hardware Commands Massive Bids
The auction also featured early Apple hardware that drew intense competition. A pre-production Apple-1 prototype board sold for $2.75 million, making it one of the most valuable computers ever sold at auction. Meanwhile, a 1976 Apple bank statement fetched more than $828,000.
Collectors showed strong interest in personal items owned by Jobs as well. A 1977 Apple poster from his collection sold for nearly $660,000. His Apple-1 wooden case reached over $254,000. Even smaller objects carried emotional value, including bow ties, business cards, and furniture from the original Apple garage.
Personal Effects Reveal Human Side of Tech Icon
Not every item carried a million-dollar price tag. However, many buyers chased pieces that revealed Jobs’ personality. His Bob Dylan and Joan Baez 8-track tapes sold for $6,250. Handwritten Volkswagen repair manuals brought in over $8,000. A ribbon cable from an Apple-1 computer closed at just over $3,200.
These sales show how collectors value personal history alongside technological milestones. Each item offers a glimpse into the life of one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures.
Demand Reflects Enduring Legacy
Auction organizers said the results confirm the lasting power of Apple’s origin story. Buyers did not simply purchase hardware or paper documents. Instead, they invested in moments that shaped modern computing.
As interest in tech history grows, experts expect similar auctions to attract strong global attention. For now, this event stands as one of the most successful sales of Apple memorabilia ever recorded.
