Fifty years after its launch as a computer company, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is still setting records for revenue and iPhone sales. While Apple fans often shell out thousands of dollars on new computers, iPhones, tablets and more products from the company, some investors and Apple fans are spending millions to buy the rarest memorabilia in the company's history.
Apple's First Check Breaks Auction Record
RR Auctions recently hosted the "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction," featuring numerous items that belonged to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and other pieces of Apple memorabilia.
Among the top-selling pieces in the auction was Apple check No. 1, the first Apple Computer check from 1976. The check was signed by Jobs and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and given to Howard Cantin, the designer of the Apple-1 printed circuit board, in the amount of $500. The signed check has been graded a PSA Mint 9, the second-highest grading PSA gives out.
RR Auctions gave a pre-auction estimate of $500,000 on the check. The rare Apple piece just sold for $2,409,886, including buyer's premium.
This sets a new world record for the most money paid for a check ever, according to Cllct founder Darren Rovell. In fact, according to Rovell, a check had never sold for $1 million before.
While it is unknown who the buyer is, this check marks one of the oldest and rarest pieces in Apple history. The check was dated March 16, 1976, making it older than the official founding date of Apple (April 1, 1976).
Apple-1 Computer Prototype Tops Other Auction Items
Among the other highlights from the auction were a rare Apple-1 computer prototype board, another rare Apple check and other items from Jobs' childhood.
The earliest known fiberglass prototype used to validate the Apple-1 Computer sold for $2,750,000, including buyer's premium. This smashed a pre-auction estimate of $500,000.
Apple's check No. 181 to its first seed investor, Elmer Baum, from 1976 in the amount of $125, sold for $52,500, beating a pre-auction estimate of $25,000.
Apple's First Financial Record, which is a March 1976 Wells Fargo account statement, sold for $828,569. This easily surpassed a $10,000 pre-auction estimate. The statement covers the period ending March 31, 1976, predating Apple's founding.
A total of six items in the auction topped the $100,000 mark, including a collection of 12 personally owned bow ties from Jobs' boyhood bedroom closet. The bowties sold for $113,500, easily surpassing the $2,000 pre-auction estimate.
Popular items in the auction included many that personally belonged to Jobs, his signatures and old business cards.
Apple auctions and Jobs-related memorabilia have proven to be hot commodities at auction in recent years. With Apple celebrating its 50th anniversary later this year, more Apple rare items could come up for bid in the coming months.
Image via Kemarrravv13/ Shutterstock
