Rare Apple-1 Computer Sold at Auction for Bargain Price

Back in March, we reported that a rare Apple-1 computer believed to be “the best-preserved example of an Apple-1 to appear on the market”, is expected to sell for over $300,000 when it goes up for auction in Cologne, Germany on May 20th. However, the computer has been sold for only $112,000 at the auction, which is considerably less than what the predicted auctioneers expected it to fetch (via Cult of Mac).

In comparison, a similar Apple-1 computer was sold at an auction in 2014 for a staggering $905,000. “From our point of view we are back at normal levels. Five years after the death of Steve Jobs the ‘hype’ has settled back”, said Uwe Breker, who oversaw the auction in Cologne. 

The Apple-1 sold over the weekend previously belonged to engineer John J. Dryden, who bought it back in 1976. It still had its original receipt, operating manual, and other documents. According to the auctioneers, this Apple-1 computer is just one of eight working examples of the machine left in the world.

For those who don’t know, only 200 examples of the Apple-1 desktop computers were ever made, designed and built by hand by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak in Silicon Valley. Released in 1976, it was also Apple’s first ever product, which has now become a much sought-after collectors’ item.