Apple 1 was worth $666.66 when it was first released in 1976 designed by Steve Wozniak. Who would have thought that it can worth hundreds of dollars in years to come?
However, an auction in Germany was able to sell it for $640,000 in November 2012. Prior to that, an auction in New York sold it for $374,500.
This coming Saturday, May 25, another auction will be held at the same venue in Cologne, Germany administered by Uwe Breker. He admitted that he didn't expected that the vintage computer will be worth as much. This week, the bid starts at $116,000 and expected to sell up to $400,000 only.
According to experts, there is no guarantee when it comes to vintage machines. Buyers would still want to see if it is a working machine before they bid. They auctioned a non-operational Apple 1 in London last year and were able to close only around $75,000. The one in Germany was higher because it is still operational.
While some people find it illogical to purchase a vintage computer for over half a million dollars, the technologists suggest that it was a logical decision. "It is Apple's creation story, the physical artifact that traces this incredible success to its origins," said Mr. Dag Spicer, a senior curator at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.
The Apple 1 is considered a limited edition during its time since the company produced approximately 200 units of it only. To date, only 46 are documented to exist making it a rare collector's item.
The Apple 1 that will be auctioned this weekend belongs to Fred Hatfield, a former baseball player in the major leagues, who passed away in 1998. However, Mr. Breker annoyingly declined to confirm saying that the owner is a young American working in a software company.
