At a recent auction, the hand-drawn Apple II sketches by tech pioneer Steve Wozniak fetch an impressive sum of $630,272.
In the realm of tech collectibles, the worth of historical schematics is a fascinating topic. Take, for instance, the Apple II blueprints, which hold as much significance for some enthusiasts as hypothetical artifacts from the digital age. A fortunate bidder shelled out an impressive sum of $630,272 to become the sole proprietor of Steve Wozniak's initial designs for the Apple II.
Penned in 1975, these priceless plans included 23 pages of schematics and programming instructions. Wozniak, who had provided a letter of authenticity, stated that it was "precious" to him. The exclusive winner of the auction secured designs from "Bus Sources," "System Timing," and other essential components. Even the purple felt-tip pen strokes used during Wozniak’s breadboarding technique were visible in the original sketches.
Apple II played a crucial role in positioning Apple as a key competitor in the home PC market. Released in 1977, its unique blend of simplicity, innovative memory approach, and color graphic display made it a commercial success in the business world.
The package of notes and sketches ended up in the hands of RR Auction, a leading firm that specializes in auctioning rare collectibles. Other significant items included RR Auction's collection of first-ever computer mouse, a pair of custom-made 1979 Apple-shaped rainbow glasses by an optometrist, and a job offer letter from Steve Jobs to Del Yocam. The latter included the iconic phrase "insanely great offer" and fetched a hefty sum.
Among the showstoppers, an Apple I, an earlier model, was in pristine condition and included the vintage power supply and Apple cassette interface. The complete lot sold for an eye-popping $736,862.50.
If you're interested in more tech-related collectibles, you might find the recent RR Auction gallery intriguing. Who knows, you may stumble upon your very own digital treasure trove!
Meanwhile, historical and rare blueprints in other tech industries, including Ferrari's F40 blueprints, could fetch similar prices at auctions. The value lies in their historical significance and the unique insights they offer into groundbreaking technology.
The technological significance of the Apple II blueprints extended beyond the tech community, attracting bidders from various fields. The future value of such collectibles might see further increases, given the growing interest in tech history. The sale price of $630,272 set a new standard for the worth of historic tech designs. In the world of tech collectibles, Wozniak's Apple II schematics are now considered among the most valuable, showcasing the significance of original technology designs.
