Rare Wooden Apple-1 Sells for Nearly $500,000, Shattering Auction Expectations
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Auction Stunner
Historic Computer Far Exceeds Predictions
A remarkably rare, wooden-cased Apple-1 computer has sold at auction for a staggering $471,000, dramatically surpassing all pre-sale estimates. The final hammer price, which includes the buyer's premium, landed at nearly half a million dollars, a testament to the enduring allure and historical significance of Apple's very first product.
The sale was conducted by Boston-based RR Auction, which had initially projected the machine would fetch between $375,000 and $500,000. While the final sale price fell within that broad range, it blasted past the more conservative expectations many had for the iconic machine. This particular unit is one of the extremely few known to be housed in its original Koa wood case, a feature that significantly amplifies its collectability.
The Koa Wood Distinction
What Makes This Apple-1 So Special
According to the report from tomshardware.com, the defining characteristic of this Apple-1 is its enclosure crafted from Koa wood, a rich and beautifully grained timber native to Hawaii. In the mid-1970s, only a small number of the approximately 200 Apple-1 computers produced were sold with these custom wooden cases, which were offered as an optional accessory for an extra $75.
Most units were sold as bare circuit boards, leaving the task of finding or building a case to the original owner. This makes a complete, factory-original Koa wood-cased Apple-1 an exceptionally rare artifact from the dawn of the personal computing era. The wood not only provides a unique aesthetic but also serves as a direct link to the early, hands-on philosophy of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
Provenance and Preservation
Tracing the Computer's Journey
The computer's history, or provenance, adds another layer to its value. The unit was originally purchased by a college professor in 1976 from the legendary Byte Shop in Mountain View, California, one of Apple's first retailers. It later changed hands in the early 1980s, eventually being acquired by its most recent owner, a collector who has preserved it for decades.
This chain of ownership is well-documented, a critical factor for high-stakes collectors. The machine is reported to be in good, original condition, complete with its vintage ASCII keyboard and a Sanyo monitor, painting a complete picture of a working computer system from 1976. How many of its original components remain fully functional after nearly 50 years is a question that undoubtedly intrigued the auction's participants.
The Market for Computing History
Why Apple-1s Command Such Premiums
The sale is the latest in a series of multi-million dollar auctions for functional Apple-1 computers, establishing a clear market for the most significant relics of tech history. These machines represent not just a product, but the genesis of a company that would irrevocably change modern life. For collectors, owning an Apple-1 is akin to owning a piece of the Gutenberg Bible for book collectors—it's the origin point.
As reported by tomshardware.com, this particular auction result reinforces the immense value placed on rarity and originality. While other Apple-1s have sold for more—one reached $905,000 in 2014—the price achieved for this wooden-cased model confirms that unique features and verified history can command extraordinary sums, even against broader economic trends.
Inside the Apple-1
The Technical Marvel Behind the Wood
Beneath the handsome wooden exterior lies the engineering brilliance of Steve Wozniak. The Apple-1 was a fully assembled circuit board that integrated about 30 chips. Users needed only to connect a power supply, a keyboard, and a television monitor to have a working computer—a significant step forward from the build-it-yourself kits that dominated the hobbyist market at the time.
The machine operated at a then-impressive speed of 1 MHz and came standard with 4 KB of memory, expandable to 8 KB on the board itself. Programming was done in machine code, and data could be saved via a cassette tape interface. This simplicity and completeness were revolutionary, lowering the barrier to entry for computing and setting the stage for everything that followed.
A Landmark in a Suitcase
The Cultural Weight of the Design
The choice of Koa wood was not merely aesthetic; it reflected the ethos of the era. The personal computer was a new, almost philosophical concept—a machine for individual creativity and empowerment. Housing it in warm, natural wood, rather than cold metal or plastic, made the technology feel more accessible and less intimidating.
This design decision, likely influenced by Steve Jobs's growing interest in the intersection of technology and the liberal arts, was a precursor to Apple's future focus on design. The wooden case symbolizes a moment when computing was leaving the sterile corporate data center and finding a place on people's desks at home. It’s a physical manifestation of a paradigm shift.
The Auction Dynamics
How the Bidding Unfolded
RR Auction facilitated the sale through its online platform, with bidding opening weeks before the live event. The intense interest culminated in a competitive final round of bidding that drove the price well beyond the initial expectations of many observers. The identity of the winning bidder has not been publicly disclosed, which is common in high-profile auctions of this nature.
The final price of $471,000 includes the buyer's premium, a standard fee charged by the auction house on top of the hammer price. This result demonstrates the robust and specialized nature of the historical technology market, where unique items can generate fierce competition regardless of the broader economic climate. Who was willing to pay such a sum, and whether the computer will be displayed publicly, remains to be seen.
A Legacy Cast in Wood and Silicon
The Enduring Significance of the Sale
This sale is more than just a transaction; it's a valuation of history. The wooden-cased Apple-1 is a touchstone to a pivotal moment when two visionaries in a garage set in motion a technological revolution. Its survival in such a complete state is remarkable, and its new price tag reflects its status as a foundational artifact of the digital age.
As the number of known surviving Apple-1 computers is finite—estimated to be around 60 to 70 units—each public sale provides a new benchmark for their cultural and monetary worth. This auction, reported by tomshardware.com on September 22, 2025, confirms that the legacy of Apple's humble beginning continues to appreciate, preserved in silicon and, in this rare instance, in beautiful Hawaiian Koa wood.
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