Steve Jobs’ Apple 1 computer earns $400,000

The still working device is one of 200 Apple 1 computers made by hand by Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Done by Professor

The computer that was auctioned is known as the “Chaffey College Apple 1” because the original owner was a professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

He eventually sold the computer to a college student in 1977 so that he could purchase an Apple II. The student, whose name has not been announced by John Moran Auctioneers, has yet to be kept. The name of the buyer was not disclosed.

rare copy

What makes this computer even rarer is that it is largely encased in koa wood, a specialty wood from Hawaii. Only six of the original models were made in this way.

There are an estimated 20 other Apple 1 computers still working. One of them even fetched $905,000 (780,650 euros) at an auction in New York seven years ago. Experts said earlier this week that they expect this version to fetch at least $500,000.

Apple’s first product

The Apple 1 was the first Apple product to be sold in stores and come with a warranty. “It was guaranteed to work,” Apple historian Corey Cohen told the Los Angeles Times.

“Before that, there were other computers, but they were combinations that didn’t always work.” So Cohen called Chaffee College a sort of “holy grail” for collectors.