Computing
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
Astrolabes are not here but in Astronomy.
See also : Ancient science Inventions Apple Computer
Astrolabes are not here but in Astronomy.
See also : Ancient science Inventions Apple Computer
1502 Summa by Pacioli
2019 SOLD for $ 1.21M by Christie's
Born in Tuscany, Luca Pacioli receives a trade-oriented education. He meets (probably in Urbino) Piero della Francesca who was born in the same borgo as him. Piero is one of the most eclectic spirits of the Renaissance, able to integrate into his theories both mathematics and pictorial art.
Luca settles permanently in Venice in the 1470s as a Franciscan friar. Venice is a city of merchants. He reads the works of his most important predecessors including Fibonacci. He continues to teach and prepares a compilation of the whole knowledge in terms of arithmetic, geometry and study of proportions, to which he adds the best accounting practices of the Venetian trade.
In the best tradition of the antique and Arabic science which includes for example Euclid, Aristotle, Ptolemy and Avicenna, Pacioli is a compiler. He relies among other sources on the Liber Abaci prepared in 1202 by Fibonacci, which demonstrated that the Indo-Arabic numbering system is much better than the Roman numerals.
Pacioli does not omit anything about arithmetic and its applications. He promotes the double entry bookkeeping already practiced by some merchants, separating the recordings of debit and credit. He illustrates the position of fingers to identify high numbers in the decimal system. He defines the perfect proportions in the arrangements of elementary geometrical figures.
Luca writes his textbook in Italian and not in Latin, to ensure that it will be well understood by the merchants. His book titled Summa di arithmetica, geometria, proporzioni e proporzionalita, published in Venice in 1494, is the first arithmetic treatise in the vernacular. Of middle class origin, Pacioli wants above all to provide a guide of good practices for the merchants.
He succeeded beyond all hope. Merchants follow his recommendations, constantly maintaining a situation analysis of their business. The clarity of their accountings puts an end to the mistrust of their clients.
A copy announced in superb condition of the first issue of the first edition in its original binding was sold for € 550K by Finarte on June 20, 2019. lot 507. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Leonardo da Vinci buys in the following year a copy from the same issue. Without doubt at his request, Luca joins the court of Ludovico Sforza in Milan in 1496. The collaboration of the mathematician and the artist is early interrupted by the wars of Italy but it is fruitful, deepening and applying the concept of golden ratio. Paganinus publishes their joint work in 1509 in Venice under the title Divina proporzione. Leonardo reuses in his Last Supper the geometrical principles proposed by the mathematician. A direct influence by Pacioli on Dürer is also very likely.
On June 12, 2019, Christie's sold for $ 1.21M at lot 1 a complete copy of the second issue of the first edition, printed circa 1502 by Paganinus after a few typographical reworks. This book is in its original state : it was not trimmed and has kept its period vellum wrapper. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Luca settles permanently in Venice in the 1470s as a Franciscan friar. Venice is a city of merchants. He reads the works of his most important predecessors including Fibonacci. He continues to teach and prepares a compilation of the whole knowledge in terms of arithmetic, geometry and study of proportions, to which he adds the best accounting practices of the Venetian trade.
In the best tradition of the antique and Arabic science which includes for example Euclid, Aristotle, Ptolemy and Avicenna, Pacioli is a compiler. He relies among other sources on the Liber Abaci prepared in 1202 by Fibonacci, which demonstrated that the Indo-Arabic numbering system is much better than the Roman numerals.
Pacioli does not omit anything about arithmetic and its applications. He promotes the double entry bookkeeping already practiced by some merchants, separating the recordings of debit and credit. He illustrates the position of fingers to identify high numbers in the decimal system. He defines the perfect proportions in the arrangements of elementary geometrical figures.
Luca writes his textbook in Italian and not in Latin, to ensure that it will be well understood by the merchants. His book titled Summa di arithmetica, geometria, proporzioni e proporzionalita, published in Venice in 1494, is the first arithmetic treatise in the vernacular. Of middle class origin, Pacioli wants above all to provide a guide of good practices for the merchants.
He succeeded beyond all hope. Merchants follow his recommendations, constantly maintaining a situation analysis of their business. The clarity of their accountings puts an end to the mistrust of their clients.
A copy announced in superb condition of the first issue of the first edition in its original binding was sold for € 550K by Finarte on June 20, 2019. lot 507. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Leonardo da Vinci buys in the following year a copy from the same issue. Without doubt at his request, Luca joins the court of Ludovico Sforza in Milan in 1496. The collaboration of the mathematician and the artist is early interrupted by the wars of Italy but it is fruitful, deepening and applying the concept of golden ratio. Paganinus publishes their joint work in 1509 in Venice under the title Divina proporzione. Leonardo reuses in his Last Supper the geometrical principles proposed by the mathematician. A direct influence by Pacioli on Dürer is also very likely.
On June 12, 2019, Christie's sold for $ 1.21M at lot 1 a complete copy of the second issue of the first edition, printed circa 1502 by Paganinus after a few typographical reworks. This book is in its original state : it was not trimmed and has kept its period vellum wrapper. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
The remarkable story of a Renaissance book described as ‘the most influential work in the history of capitalism’. Summa de Arithmetica by #LucaPacioli will be offered in #NewYork on 12 June https://t.co/3RHX5Ca3kZ pic.twitter.com/ERxXY9fmhe
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) May 24, 2019
This June 12 we will offer at auction Luca Pacioli’s Summa de Arithmetica: The Birth of Modern Business in #NewYork. Known to represent "the pinnacle of mathematical knowledge in the Renaissance" Pacioli's book is considerably an icon of the history of all human knowledge. pic.twitter.com/RYSyANDl4V
— Christie's (@ChristiesInc) February 21, 2019
breakthrough
1642 Pascaline
Parcé Collection
A Pascaline executed by Blaise Pascal in 1642 was withdrawn before a sale at Christie's on November 19, 2025, lot 74.
Asking Grok to identify its significance in the history of engineering and computing.
Grok thought :
Significance in the History of Engineering
The Pascaline, invented by Blaise Pascal around 1642 at the age of 19, represents a groundbreaking achievement in mechanical engineering, as it was the world's first functional mechanical calculator capable of automating arithmetic operations. Designed initially to assist his father, a tax supervisor in Rouen, France, with tedious calculations, Pascal developed over 50 prototypes before finalizing the device in 1645. Its engineering innovations included a sophisticated system of spoked metal dials (turned with a stylus), gears, springs, and display windows, allowing for direct addition and subtraction, with multiplication and division achieved through repetition.Key engineering features that advanced the field:
Significance in the History of Computing
The Pascaline is widely regarded as the birth of computing, as it was the first machine in history to mechanize mental arithmetic, effectively substituting human reasoning with automated processes—a foundational step toward modern computational devices. Invented amid the intellectual ferment of 17th-century Europe, it shifted calculation from manual labor to mechanical reliability, with Pascal himself promoting it as making operations "easy, simple, quick, and reliable."Its milestones in computing history include:
Pre sale thought by Grok :
Christie's Books @ChristiesBKS
The Pascaline is still on view in New York, until Wednesday, October 15 - don’t miss this unique opportunity to see the first calculating machine in human history, invented by Blaise Pascal when he was only 19. De la collection Léon Parcé: live auction in Paris, November 19
Asking Grok to identify its significance in the history of engineering and computing.
Grok thought :
Significance in the History of Engineering
The Pascaline, invented by Blaise Pascal around 1642 at the age of 19, represents a groundbreaking achievement in mechanical engineering, as it was the world's first functional mechanical calculator capable of automating arithmetic operations. Designed initially to assist his father, a tax supervisor in Rouen, France, with tedious calculations, Pascal developed over 50 prototypes before finalizing the device in 1645. Its engineering innovations included a sophisticated system of spoked metal dials (turned with a stylus), gears, springs, and display windows, allowing for direct addition and subtraction, with multiplication and division achieved through repetition.Key engineering features that advanced the field:
- Carry Mechanism: A gravity-assisted "sautoir" (jumping lever) enabled automatic carry-over across digits without direct wheel contact, allowing rapid propagation even over multiple positions—a novel solution to cascading arithmetic that influenced future mechanical designs.
- Gear Adaptation: Pascal miniaturized and adapted lantern gears from turret clocks and water wheels for low-friction, durable operation, demonstrating early principles of mechanical scaling and precision engineering.
- Variants for Practical Use: Three models were created to handle different numerical bases—decimal for scientific calculations, non-decimal for French currency (e.g., 12 deniers per sol, 20 sols per livre), and surveying for measurements (e.g., 12 pouces per pied, 6 pieds per toise)—showcasing adaptable engineering for real-world applications like accounting and land measurement.
- Subtraction via Complements: It used nine's complement arithmetic for subtraction, toggled by a movable bar that displayed either the direct result or its complement, an efficient mechanical workaround.
- Reset Functionality: Re-zeroing was achieved by setting dials to their maximum and adding 1, triggering a full carry cascade—an ingenious engineering hack for usability.
Significance in the History of Computing
The Pascaline is widely regarded as the birth of computing, as it was the first machine in history to mechanize mental arithmetic, effectively substituting human reasoning with automated processes—a foundational step toward modern computational devices. Invented amid the intellectual ferment of 17th-century Europe, it shifted calculation from manual labor to mechanical reliability, with Pascal himself promoting it as making operations "easy, simple, quick, and reliable."Its milestones in computing history include:
- First Operational Calculator: The only functional mechanical calculator of the 17th century, publicly demonstrated and used in a professional setting (tax offices), predating viable commercial machines by nearly two centuries.
- Precursor to Modern Computers: By automating addition and subtraction (and indirectly multiplication/division), it laid groundwork for algorithmic processing, influencing the evolution from mechanical calculators to electronic computers. It directly inspired Leibniz's efforts to add native multiplication, leading to the Leibniz wheel, and later the Arithmometer by Thomas de Colmar in 1820—the first reliable mass-produced calculator.
- Automation of Thought: As Christie's notes, it embodies "an entire chapter of human history" by transferring cognitive tasks to machinery, echoing contemporary debates on artificial intelligence and computational thinking.
- Commercial and Practical Firsts: The first calculator to be commercialized (albeit limited to elite buyers) and deployed in real-world work, highlighting early computing's potential for efficiency in bureaucracy and science.
Pre sale thought by Grok :
Christie's Books @ChristiesBKS
The Pascaline is still on view in New York, until Wednesday, October 15 - don’t miss this unique opportunity to see the first calculating machine in human history, invented by Blaise Pascal when he was only 19. De la collection Léon Parcé: live auction in Paris, November 19
- This X post from Christie's Books highlights a rare 1642 Pascaline, Blaise Pascal's groundbreaking mechanical calculator invented at age 19 to automate tax computations, currently viewable in New York until October 15, 2025.
- The device, featuring brass gears for addition and subtraction within an ornate wooden case, originates from the Léon Parcé collection of historic scientific instruments and anchors a Paris auction on November 19 estimated at 2-3 million euros.
- Pascal's innovation, one of about 50 surviving examples from 10 prototypes, underscores 17th-century engineering prowess, influencing later computing developments like Leibniz's stepped reckone
1942 Notebook by Turing
2015 SOLD for $ 1.02M by Bonhams
The great mathematicians desired to determine whether logic could be sufficient to explain the world. By analyzing the most abstract and difficult problems with his innovative thinking, Alan Turing managed his research so far that real applications have emerged.
He was a visionary in artificial intelligence at the time when the first modern computers were developed around John von Neumann. During the war, working on the logic of algorithms, he broke the encryption of German Enigma machines previously considered as inviolable.
On April 13, 2015, Bonhams sold for $ 1.02M a highly rare notebook, lot 1. The scientific thoughts by Turing, written after 1942, are laid at the start and end of the book, while the intermediate pages were used for personal notes by his eminent student Robin Gandy after the ignominious death of Turing (who was pardoned posthumously in 2013 by Queen Elizabeth II).
Both autographs by Turing are unpublished developments. They bring a new vision on the thinking process of one of the most profound scientists of our time, who found through a method of enforcing simplifications the solutions of problems that his illustrious predecessors had just managed to define.
The first of them is a review of Peano's axioms concerning the completeness and consistency of mathematics. After Hilbert, Turing also addresses the third problem of Peano on decidability, meaning the possibility of establishing an algorithm to decide whether a mathematical proposition is true or false. This text is anticipating his involvement with Enigma but certainly helps to understand the thinking process that enabled the deciphering.
The second scientific text of the book is a study of the role of the mathematical notation. Turing appreciated that a complex formulation makes it more difficult to find the solution. His approach is based on the search for a universal language of mathematics by Leibniz. Such researches make him a precursor of computer programming.
He was a visionary in artificial intelligence at the time when the first modern computers were developed around John von Neumann. During the war, working on the logic of algorithms, he broke the encryption of German Enigma machines previously considered as inviolable.
On April 13, 2015, Bonhams sold for $ 1.02M a highly rare notebook, lot 1. The scientific thoughts by Turing, written after 1942, are laid at the start and end of the book, while the intermediate pages were used for personal notes by his eminent student Robin Gandy after the ignominious death of Turing (who was pardoned posthumously in 2013 by Queen Elizabeth II).
Both autographs by Turing are unpublished developments. They bring a new vision on the thinking process of one of the most profound scientists of our time, who found through a method of enforcing simplifications the solutions of problems that his illustrious predecessors had just managed to define.
The first of them is a review of Peano's axioms concerning the completeness and consistency of mathematics. After Hilbert, Turing also addresses the third problem of Peano on decidability, meaning the possibility of establishing an algorithm to decide whether a mathematical proposition is true or false. This text is anticipating his involvement with Enigma but certainly helps to understand the thinking process that enabled the deciphering.
The second scientific text of the book is a study of the role of the mathematical notation. Turing appreciated that a complex formulation makes it more difficult to find the solution. His approach is based on the search for a universal language of mathematics by Leibniz. Such researches make him a precursor of computer programming.
Special Report
Enigma
The wireless telegraphy using Morse code is an elegant solution to transmit information, especially in war time, but its security is questionable. In 1926 the Germans discovered with dismay that at the end of the first world war the British intercepted and read easily their most secret messages.
The solution existed in their own country. In 1918 an engineer working in Berlin invented an enciphering machine in a high level of complexity. By its process of changing throughout the connected network the settings applicable both in transmission and in reception, messages must be inviolable.
The extreme subtlety of Enigma lies in the fact that the coding of a letter changes continuously by the action of the rotors according to an algorithm that applies to all machines. The basic plugboard wiring and the initial position of the rotors are renewed very frequently, even daily on the most secret networks, by instructions transmitted to the operators.
When hitting a key, the electrical signal is transmitted through the three rotors to another component named the reflector and passes back through the rotors to light a small bulb which reveals the reading value of the letter. The German military developed additional complications such as the interchangeable rotors or the movable reflector.
The control of the Atlantic is a key for winning the war. What could not be avoided happened : in 1941, a U-Boot was captured with its Enigmas. The concerned Kriegsmarine ordered a further complexity of the Enigma. The M4 distributed from May 1941 to February 1942 have their three automatic rotors plus a fourth narrower rotor set by hand across 26 positions. Most of them were destroyed in the sinking of their submarines in the Atlantic war.
An M4 made in 1942 was sold for $ 800K by Sotheby's on December 17, 2019, lot 37. This example had been seized from the naval base at Trondheim in 1945 during the German surrender. It is complete and fully operational but not in matching numbers according to the usual practice of the operators to swap the rotors. It is housed in its original oak case.
An M4 was sold for $ 460K by Bonhams on December 7, 2016, lot 1088 and for $ 720K by Christie's on September 10, 2024, lot 14 from the collection of Paul G. Allen. It is fully operational and in matching numbers. It is dated November 1941 by Christie's. Please watch the video shared by Christie's.
An M4 in full matching numbers was sold for $ 365K by Bonhams on October 21, 2015, lot 285. Another M4 made in 1944 was sold for $ 435K by Sotheby's on December 12, 2017, lot 67.
The solution existed in their own country. In 1918 an engineer working in Berlin invented an enciphering machine in a high level of complexity. By its process of changing throughout the connected network the settings applicable both in transmission and in reception, messages must be inviolable.
The extreme subtlety of Enigma lies in the fact that the coding of a letter changes continuously by the action of the rotors according to an algorithm that applies to all machines. The basic plugboard wiring and the initial position of the rotors are renewed very frequently, even daily on the most secret networks, by instructions transmitted to the operators.
When hitting a key, the electrical signal is transmitted through the three rotors to another component named the reflector and passes back through the rotors to light a small bulb which reveals the reading value of the letter. The German military developed additional complications such as the interchangeable rotors or the movable reflector.
The control of the Atlantic is a key for winning the war. What could not be avoided happened : in 1941, a U-Boot was captured with its Enigmas. The concerned Kriegsmarine ordered a further complexity of the Enigma. The M4 distributed from May 1941 to February 1942 have their three automatic rotors plus a fourth narrower rotor set by hand across 26 positions. Most of them were destroyed in the sinking of their submarines in the Atlantic war.
An M4 made in 1942 was sold for $ 800K by Sotheby's on December 17, 2019, lot 37. This example had been seized from the naval base at Trondheim in 1945 during the German surrender. It is complete and fully operational but not in matching numbers according to the usual practice of the operators to swap the rotors. It is housed in its original oak case.
An M4 was sold for $ 460K by Bonhams on December 7, 2016, lot 1088 and for $ 720K by Christie's on September 10, 2024, lot 14 from the collection of Paul G. Allen. It is fully operational and in matching numbers. It is dated November 1941 by Christie's. Please watch the video shared by Christie's.
An M4 in full matching numbers was sold for $ 365K by Bonhams on October 21, 2015, lot 285. Another M4 made in 1944 was sold for $ 435K by Sotheby's on December 12, 2017, lot 67.
1976 Apple-1
1
March 16 Check # 1 by the Apple Computer Company
2026 SOLD for $ 2.4M by RR Auction
Apple Computer Company Check No. 1, written on March 16, 1976 and signed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. This Wells Fargo check—made payable for $500 to Howard Cantin, the designer of the Apple-1 printed circuit board—is the first check ever drawn on Apple’s original bank account. The check documents the moment Apple transitioned from an idea into an operating business. It was sold for $ 2.4M on January 30, 2026 at RR Auction from an estimate of $500000+, lot 6000. Define more precisely the work billed by Cantin and its position in Apple timeline.
The video is shared by the auction house.
Howard Cantin's work involved designing the printed circuit board (PCB) layout for the Apple-1 (also known as Apple I), Apple's inaugural product.
Steve Wozniak personally designed the electrical circuitry and overall architecture of the Apple-1, including its schematic. However, turning that schematic into a practical, manufacturable PCB required specialized layout expertise—routing traces, placing components, ensuring signal integrity, and optimizing for production using manual techniques (such as tape-based drafting common in the 1970s). Cantin, an experienced PCB layout engineer then working at Atari (where he had handled layouts for early Atari arcade games and systems), was hired as an independent contractor for this task. The $500 payment via Check No. 1 compensated him specifically for this PCB layout design work.
In a 2012 interview, Cantin discussed his role in laying out early Apple boards (including the Apple-1 and initial Apple II versions), noting his use of tape for creating traces and turns on the design.
This positions the payment—and thus Cantin's contribution—very early in Apple's timeline:
The video is shared by the auction house.
Howard Cantin's work involved designing the printed circuit board (PCB) layout for the Apple-1 (also known as Apple I), Apple's inaugural product.
Steve Wozniak personally designed the electrical circuitry and overall architecture of the Apple-1, including its schematic. However, turning that schematic into a practical, manufacturable PCB required specialized layout expertise—routing traces, placing components, ensuring signal integrity, and optimizing for production using manual techniques (such as tape-based drafting common in the 1970s). Cantin, an experienced PCB layout engineer then working at Atari (where he had handled layouts for early Atari arcade games and systems), was hired as an independent contractor for this task. The $500 payment via Check No. 1 compensated him specifically for this PCB layout design work.
In a 2012 interview, Cantin discussed his role in laying out early Apple boards (including the Apple-1 and initial Apple II versions), noting his use of tape for creating traces and turns on the design.
This positions the payment—and thus Cantin's contribution—very early in Apple's timeline:
- By early March 1976, Wozniak had largely completed the basic electrical design of the Apple-1.
- On March 16, 1976, Jobs and Wozniak opened their first bank account at Wells Fargo (funded by selling Jobs' VW bus and Wozniak's HP calculator) and issued Check No. 1 to Cantin. This occurred 16 days before Apple's official founding as a partnership on April 1, 1976 (when Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne signed the formal agreement).
- The check thus captures the precise moment the duo transitioned from a conceptual project to an operational business entity committing real funds to produce their first product.
- After Cantin's layout, the bare PCBs were fabricated (e.g., by a company like Ramlor Inc., paid via early subsequent checks), components were sourced and hand-assembled by Jobs and Wozniak in the garage, and the Apple-1 was demonstrated publicly in March/April 1976 before going on sale (primarily as bare boards) starting in July 1976.
2
April - Founding Documents
2026 SOLD for $ 2.5M by Christie's
The steps of the great technological revolution of the communication have been gradual and fast : after the discovery of the radio waves in the 19th century, the early events are the invention of the transistor in 1948, the integrated circuit in 1958. The breakthrough was achieved in 1969 with the development of the Intel 4004, the first microprocessor and also the first marvel of miniaturization because it already had a computing power comparable to machines that occupied an entire building.
Fans use their soldering iron to test the new wonders. Clubs and shops are created.
The home computer aka personal computer would be the next technological craze in California. In June 1975 Steve Wozniak tests his first working prototype. He makes a buzz with it in a group of computing hobbyists at Palo Alto.
The concept is viable and some production can be scheduled. Around a motherboard, other equipment can be connected to enable the use, such as a keyboard and a monitor. Wozniak completes the design of the Apple-1 on March 1, 1976, having prepared alone the hardware, the circuit boards and the operating system. He is disappointed : Hewlett Packard is not interested. Steve Jobs convinces him to start a business of their own.
Paul Terrell, who had just founded the specialty retail store Byte Shop in Mountain View, is also a visionary. Terrell rejects an idea of Jobs to sell modules : he will only accept 50 fully operational computers. In a hurry a motherboard referred as the Apple Computer A prototype is assembled to be used as a demonstrator for Terrell. Some bubbles in solder joints assess that it has been prepared with Wozniak's unconventional technique of holding the solder coil from his mouth.
That piece was kept by Apple without coating for a purpose of cannibalizing the electronic parts, many of them including the microprocessor being now missing. The broken upper side is also missing. Recently resurfaced and authenticated in 2022 by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen, it was sold for $ 680K by RR on August 18, 2022, lot 5006.
The would be entrepreneurs are 25 and 21 years old. The role of the senior partner is played by Ronald Wayne, a 41 years old enthusiast of engineering. The team of three creates the Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976, with 45 % of the shares to both Wozniak and Jobs and the remaining 10 % to Wayne.
The Apple-1 model is released on April 11 for retail by the Byte Shop.After harsh negotiations,
In the mean time Wayne appreciates that the new company can be successful but he is not a businessman and will not take a risk. He withdraws from the Apple company on April 12. The Apple-1 is available from July 1976 at the Byte Shop for the unit price of $ 666.66 defined by Wozniak.
A set made of three Apple founding documents previously owned by Wayne was sold by Sotheby's on December 13, 2011 for $ 1.6M from a lower estimate of $ 100K, lot 241. It is made of the April 1 contract signed by the three partners, a later amendment and the Registrant's copy of County of Santa Clara Statement of Withdrawal signed by Wayne.
The founding documents were sold for $ 2.5M by Christie's on January 23, 2026, lot 242.
Apple Company founding contracts (3 documents), sold by Sotheby's on December 13, 2011, lot 241. Significance in Computer history. Listed for sale by Christie's (2 documents) on January 23, 2026, lot 242. Confirm that Wayne's withdrawal document has been removed.
Apple's Founding Documents
The Apple Computer Company was founded on April 1, 1976, through a partnership agreement signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. This three-page document outlined the initial ownership: 45% for Jobs, 45% for Wozniak, and 10% for Wayne (who drafted it and provided early administrative support).
2011 Sotheby's Auction (Lot 241, December 13, 2011)
Ronald Wayne's personal copy of the founding documents sold as a set of three items:
Upcoming Christie's Auction (January 23, 2026)
The same set of founding documents (the 2011 Sotheby's lot, now consigned by its private owner) returns to auction as part of Christie's "We the People: America at 250" sale in New York. It is described as:
Significance in Computer History
These documents mark the formal birth of Apple in a Los Altos garage, launching the personal computer revolution. They symbolize the shift from mainframes to accessible home computing, paving the way for the Apple II (1977), Macintosh (1984), and modern devices like the iPhone. Wayne's early exit underscores the high-risk, high-reward nature of Silicon Valley startups—his forfeited 10% stake would be worth hundreds of billions today. As foundational artifacts, they represent innovation, entrepreneurship, and the dawn of the digital age, often called Apple's "birth certificate."
chat with AI :
ArtHitParade :
The Apple computer company partnership agreement is for sale by Christie's on January 23, 2026, lot 242. The previous sale, by Sotheby's on December 13, 2011, lot 241, included Wayne's withdrawal document, which is not referred in Christie's catalogue. Was this document withdrawn from the set ?
Grok :
No, the Wayne withdrawal document has not been withdrawn from the set. It is included in Christie's lot 242 as the "amendment letter" dated April 12, 1976, which is the same document that formalized Ronald Wayne's exit from the partnership. The lot is the identical set previously sold at Sotheby's in 2011 (per the provenance), comprising the original three-page partnership agreement plus the one-page amendment.
ArtHitParade :
Explain why the Sotheby's catalogue referred to 3+1+1 page and Christie's referred to 4 pages together. I believe that some confusion happened in your response between the Amendment dated 12 April 1976, 1 page, referred by both Sotheby's and Christie's, and Registrant's Copy of County of Santa Clara Statement of Withdrawal signed by "Ronald G. Wayne," 1 page, so referred by Sotheby's and not found in Christie's catalogue.
Grok :
The discrepancy in the page and document descriptions between the two auction catalogues stems from differences in what was included in each lot, despite the core items being the same provenance from Ronald Wayne and previously sold at Sotheby's in 2011.
Sotheby's 2011 catalogue for lot 241 described the item as three separate documents totaling five pages: the original three-page typed partnership agreement dated April 1, 1976 (signed by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ronald Wayne); a one-page amendment dated April 12, 1976 (also signed by all three, formalizing Wayne's exit and the $800 payment to him in exchange for relinquishing his 10% stake); and an additional one-page "Registrant's Copy of County of Santa Clara Statement of Withdrawal" signed solely by Wayne, which served as the official county-filed record of his withdrawal from the partnership.
In contrast, Christie's 2026 catalogue for lot 242 presents the lot as a single set of four pages together, comprising only the three-page partnership agreement and the one-page amendment letter—without the separate Santa Clara withdrawal statement. The provenance explicitly confirms this is the same item acquired from the 2011 Sotheby's sale, but the extra one-page county document appears to have been removed or separated from the grouping for this resale, possibly by a previous owner or as a curatorial decision by Christie's. This results in the streamlined "4 pages" reference, focusing solely on the foundational agreement and its immediate amendment.
Fans use their soldering iron to test the new wonders. Clubs and shops are created.
The home computer aka personal computer would be the next technological craze in California. In June 1975 Steve Wozniak tests his first working prototype. He makes a buzz with it in a group of computing hobbyists at Palo Alto.
The concept is viable and some production can be scheduled. Around a motherboard, other equipment can be connected to enable the use, such as a keyboard and a monitor. Wozniak completes the design of the Apple-1 on March 1, 1976, having prepared alone the hardware, the circuit boards and the operating system. He is disappointed : Hewlett Packard is not interested. Steve Jobs convinces him to start a business of their own.
Paul Terrell, who had just founded the specialty retail store Byte Shop in Mountain View, is also a visionary. Terrell rejects an idea of Jobs to sell modules : he will only accept 50 fully operational computers. In a hurry a motherboard referred as the Apple Computer A prototype is assembled to be used as a demonstrator for Terrell. Some bubbles in solder joints assess that it has been prepared with Wozniak's unconventional technique of holding the solder coil from his mouth.
That piece was kept by Apple without coating for a purpose of cannibalizing the electronic parts, many of them including the microprocessor being now missing. The broken upper side is also missing. Recently resurfaced and authenticated in 2022 by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen, it was sold for $ 680K by RR on August 18, 2022, lot 5006.
The would be entrepreneurs are 25 and 21 years old. The role of the senior partner is played by Ronald Wayne, a 41 years old enthusiast of engineering. The team of three creates the Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976, with 45 % of the shares to both Wozniak and Jobs and the remaining 10 % to Wayne.
The Apple-1 model is released on April 11 for retail by the Byte Shop.After harsh negotiations,
In the mean time Wayne appreciates that the new company can be successful but he is not a businessman and will not take a risk. He withdraws from the Apple company on April 12. The Apple-1 is available from July 1976 at the Byte Shop for the unit price of $ 666.66 defined by Wozniak.
A set made of three Apple founding documents previously owned by Wayne was sold by Sotheby's on December 13, 2011 for $ 1.6M from a lower estimate of $ 100K, lot 241. It is made of the April 1 contract signed by the three partners, a later amendment and the Registrant's copy of County of Santa Clara Statement of Withdrawal signed by Wayne.
The founding documents were sold for $ 2.5M by Christie's on January 23, 2026, lot 242.
Apple Company founding contracts (3 documents), sold by Sotheby's on December 13, 2011, lot 241. Significance in Computer history. Listed for sale by Christie's (2 documents) on January 23, 2026, lot 242. Confirm that Wayne's withdrawal document has been removed.
Apple's Founding Documents
The Apple Computer Company was founded on April 1, 1976, through a partnership agreement signed by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. This three-page document outlined the initial ownership: 45% for Jobs, 45% for Wozniak, and 10% for Wayne (who drafted it and provided early administrative support).
2011 Sotheby's Auction (Lot 241, December 13, 2011)
Ronald Wayne's personal copy of the founding documents sold as a set of three items:
- The original 3-page partnership agreement (dated April 1, 1976).
- A 1-page amendment (dated April 12, 1976).
- A 1-page Statement of Withdrawal from the County of Santa Clara (signed by Wayne).
Upcoming Christie's Auction (January 23, 2026)
The same set of founding documents (the 2011 Sotheby's lot, now consigned by its private owner) returns to auction as part of Christie's "We the People: America at 250" sale in New York. It is described as:
- The original three-page partnership agreement.
- The accompanying papers documenting Ronald Wayne's withdrawal (the amendment and/or statement).
Significance in Computer History
These documents mark the formal birth of Apple in a Los Altos garage, launching the personal computer revolution. They symbolize the shift from mainframes to accessible home computing, paving the way for the Apple II (1977), Macintosh (1984), and modern devices like the iPhone. Wayne's early exit underscores the high-risk, high-reward nature of Silicon Valley startups—his forfeited 10% stake would be worth hundreds of billions today. As foundational artifacts, they represent innovation, entrepreneurship, and the dawn of the digital age, often called Apple's "birth certificate."
chat with AI :
ArtHitParade :
The Apple computer company partnership agreement is for sale by Christie's on January 23, 2026, lot 242. The previous sale, by Sotheby's on December 13, 2011, lot 241, included Wayne's withdrawal document, which is not referred in Christie's catalogue. Was this document withdrawn from the set ?
Grok :
No, the Wayne withdrawal document has not been withdrawn from the set. It is included in Christie's lot 242 as the "amendment letter" dated April 12, 1976, which is the same document that formalized Ronald Wayne's exit from the partnership. The lot is the identical set previously sold at Sotheby's in 2011 (per the provenance), comprising the original three-page partnership agreement plus the one-page amendment.
ArtHitParade :
Explain why the Sotheby's catalogue referred to 3+1+1 page and Christie's referred to 4 pages together. I believe that some confusion happened in your response between the Amendment dated 12 April 1976, 1 page, referred by both Sotheby's and Christie's, and Registrant's Copy of County of Santa Clara Statement of Withdrawal signed by "Ronald G. Wayne," 1 page, so referred by Sotheby's and not found in Christie's catalogue.
Grok :
The discrepancy in the page and document descriptions between the two auction catalogues stems from differences in what was included in each lot, despite the core items being the same provenance from Ronald Wayne and previously sold at Sotheby's in 2011.
Sotheby's 2011 catalogue for lot 241 described the item as three separate documents totaling five pages: the original three-page typed partnership agreement dated April 1, 1976 (signed by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Ronald Wayne); a one-page amendment dated April 12, 1976 (also signed by all three, formalizing Wayne's exit and the $800 payment to him in exchange for relinquishing his 10% stake); and an additional one-page "Registrant's Copy of County of Santa Clara Statement of Withdrawal" signed solely by Wayne, which served as the official county-filed record of his withdrawal from the partnership.
In contrast, Christie's 2026 catalogue for lot 242 presents the lot as a single set of four pages together, comprising only the three-page partnership agreement and the one-page amendment letter—without the separate Santa Clara withdrawal statement. The provenance explicitly confirms this is the same item acquired from the 2011 Sotheby's sale, but the extra one-page county document appears to have been removed or separated from the grouping for this resale, possibly by a previous owner or as a curatorial decision by Christie's. This results in the streamlined "4 pages" reference, focusing solely on the foundational agreement and its immediate amendment.
3
April-May Celebration Apple
2026 SOLD for $ 2.75M by RR Auction
A prototype is preceding a production. The Apple-1, in 1976, did not waive this universal law of the equipment industry. To fulfill the Byte Shop order of 50 units, they had to act quickly and there was no place left in that phase to realize disparities in product assembly and component selection.
This key step does not prevent to continue later to try new solutions. An Apple-1 that just surfaced has however some features that undoubtedly anticipate the production. The most obvious is the heat sink which is too small. Wozniak and Jobs were not thermal engineers and it is only through powering prototypes and not by calculations that they could appreciate that this element was undersized.
This motherboard was nevertheless used and Apple joined the same accessories and documents as on regular models : interface cassette, BASIC tape, user manuals, warranty.
The Apple Computer cassette bears a handwritten inscription identifying the reentry code after reset and the words "Good luck !!". A friend of Jobs who became one of Apple's first permanent employees is recognizing his handwriting. It appears plausible that this specimen has been assembled either by him or by Jobs during the early development phase and sold by him after about one year.
This Apple-1 was sold for $ 815K with no identified buyer's premium by CharityBuzz on August 25, 2016. It is not working. It would probably be easy to reactivate it by changing some electronic parts but its historical value rather invites to leave it in its original condition. The video is shared by CharityBuzz.
Identified as The Celebration Board, it was sold for $ 2.2M by RR Auction on January 29, 2026, lot 6003. The video is shared by the auction house. The board is narrated in both videos by Corey Cohen.
Estimated Assembly Dates
This key step does not prevent to continue later to try new solutions. An Apple-1 that just surfaced has however some features that undoubtedly anticipate the production. The most obvious is the heat sink which is too small. Wozniak and Jobs were not thermal engineers and it is only through powering prototypes and not by calculations that they could appreciate that this element was undersized.
This motherboard was nevertheless used and Apple joined the same accessories and documents as on regular models : interface cassette, BASIC tape, user manuals, warranty.
The Apple Computer cassette bears a handwritten inscription identifying the reentry code after reset and the words "Good luck !!". A friend of Jobs who became one of Apple's first permanent employees is recognizing his handwriting. It appears plausible that this specimen has been assembled either by him or by Jobs during the early development phase and sold by him after about one year.
This Apple-1 was sold for $ 815K with no identified buyer's premium by CharityBuzz on August 25, 2016. It is not working. It would probably be easy to reactivate it by changing some electronic parts but its historical value rather invites to leave it in its original condition. The video is shared by CharityBuzz.
Identified as The Celebration Board, it was sold for $ 2.2M by RR Auction on January 29, 2026, lot 6003. The video is shared by the auction house. The board is narrated in both videos by Corey Cohen.
Estimated Assembly Dates
- Apple Computer A (Phenolic Prototype): March 1976. This aligns with the commissioning of the initial PCB layout from Howard Cantin and hand-soldering by Wozniak, shortly before its use in the demonstration to Paul Terrell (which occurred in 1976, leading to the July 1976 Byte Shop delivery).
- Celebration (Fiberglass Prototype): April–May 1976. Assembled after revisions to the phenolic board's design issues but before the first production run for the Byte Shop order; component date codes (e.g., 7617 on capacitors) suggest a spring 1976 timeline, though some experts note mixed codes indicating possible later additions.
Full history of the pre-production 'Celebration' Apple board, listed by RR Auction ending 01/29/2026
The 'Celebration' Apple board is a pre-production prototype of the Apple-1 computer, recognized as the earliest known fiberglass prototype used to validate Apple's inaugural computer design prior to commercial manufacturing. It represents a pivotal artifact in Apple's early history, bridging the gap between initial experimental prototypes and the production models that launched the company.
Origin and Development
In March 1976, Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak commissioned an initial tan phenolic prototype board from PCB designer Howard Cantin. However, this early version revealed several design issues that required extensive revisions and reworking. To confirm the corrected layout on a more durable material suitable for production, Apple produced this fiberglass prototype—the 'Celebration' board—as a validation unit. It was assembled before the first batch of 50 Apple-1 machines destined for Paul Terrell's Byte Shop order, marking it as a critical transitional piece that helped solidify Apple's emergence as a computer manufacturer.
Key Features and Modifications
This board exhibits several distinctive characteristics that distinguish it from later production models:
The 'Celebration' board holds singular importance as the first board with the revised, corrected layout that Jobs and Wozniak used to verify the Apple-1's viability for manufacturing. It encapsulates the moment Apple transitioned from garage-based experimentation to a viable product ready for market, laying the groundwork for the personal computing revolution. Provenance and Condition
The board was examined by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen in May 2016, with his technical condition report revised in December 2025. It has not been tested for functionality, but its cosmetic condition is rated between 6.5 and 7.0 out of 10. It is documented as entry #75 in the Apple-1 Registry, officially listed as the “Celebration” Apple-1. This prototype is currently offered as Lot #6003 in RR Auction's "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction," which concludes on January 29, 2026. The auction lot includes the original board along with period-correct accessories: a vintage Key Tronic keyboard (circa 1977), a vintage power supply, a vintage Sony TV set, a replica Apple-1 Operation Manual signed by Steve Wozniak, and a replica Apple-1 schematic also signed by Wozniak.
chat with Grok
Is it the board sold at auction for $ 815K with no identified buyer's premium by CharityBuzz on August 25, 2016 ? If yes, was the 2016 auction validated ? If no, compare both boards.
Yes, the 'Celebration' Apple-1 board currently listed as Lot #6003 in RR Auction's "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction" (ending January 29, 2026) is the same board that was previously sold at the CharityBuzz auction on August 25, 2016, for $815,000. Public reports and articles from the time do not explicitly identify or break out a separate buyer's premium in the final sale price, though CharityBuzz auctions typically include one as part of their standard policy (usually added to the hammer price).
Yes, the 2016 auction was validated—the sale was successfully completed after 39 bids, with the winning bid placed by Glenn and Shannon Dellimore. The buyer later stated in interviews that they were prepared to pay up to $2 million for the board, which they described as the "Holy Grail of computers." The transaction is documented in the Apple-1 Registry as a confirmed sale, and the board's provenance aligns across both auctions, including its examination by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen in May 2016 (just prior to the CharityBuzz sale) and its entry as #75 in the Apple-1 Registry.
The 'Celebration' Apple board is a pre-production prototype of the Apple-1 computer, recognized as the earliest known fiberglass prototype used to validate Apple's inaugural computer design prior to commercial manufacturing. It represents a pivotal artifact in Apple's early history, bridging the gap between initial experimental prototypes and the production models that launched the company.
Origin and Development
In March 1976, Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak commissioned an initial tan phenolic prototype board from PCB designer Howard Cantin. However, this early version revealed several design issues that required extensive revisions and reworking. To confirm the corrected layout on a more durable material suitable for production, Apple produced this fiberglass prototype—the 'Celebration' board—as a validation unit. It was assembled before the first batch of 50 Apple-1 machines destined for Paul Terrell's Byte Shop order, marking it as a critical transitional piece that helped solidify Apple's emergence as a computer manufacturer.
Key Features and Modifications
This board exhibits several distinctive characteristics that distinguish it from later production models:
- Socket Type: It uses wave-soldered Robinson-Nugent sockets, differing from the Texas Instruments sockets found on standard production boards.
- Components: Features hand-soldered parts sourced from local suppliers, including two common silver Sprague 39D capacitors (non-computer-rated but readily available from a radio repair shop).
- Heatsink: Equipped with a smaller, non-standard heatsink in the voltage regulation area, with no indications of ever having a larger production-style heatsink installed.
- Timing Circuit: Includes a unique modification to the 74123 timing circuit to handle DRAM refresh, resolving early timing problems before full-scale production.
- Overall Design: Predates all Byte Shop retail boards and was never intended for commercial sale, serving purely as a proof-of-concept unit.
The 'Celebration' board holds singular importance as the first board with the revised, corrected layout that Jobs and Wozniak used to verify the Apple-1's viability for manufacturing. It encapsulates the moment Apple transitioned from garage-based experimentation to a viable product ready for market, laying the groundwork for the personal computing revolution. Provenance and Condition
The board was examined by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen in May 2016, with his technical condition report revised in December 2025. It has not been tested for functionality, but its cosmetic condition is rated between 6.5 and 7.0 out of 10. It is documented as entry #75 in the Apple-1 Registry, officially listed as the “Celebration” Apple-1. This prototype is currently offered as Lot #6003 in RR Auction's "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction," which concludes on January 29, 2026. The auction lot includes the original board along with period-correct accessories: a vintage Key Tronic keyboard (circa 1977), a vintage power supply, a vintage Sony TV set, a replica Apple-1 Operation Manual signed by Steve Wozniak, and a replica Apple-1 schematic also signed by Wozniak.
chat with Grok
Is it the board sold at auction for $ 815K with no identified buyer's premium by CharityBuzz on August 25, 2016 ? If yes, was the 2016 auction validated ? If no, compare both boards.
Yes, the 'Celebration' Apple-1 board currently listed as Lot #6003 in RR Auction's "Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction" (ending January 29, 2026) is the same board that was previously sold at the CharityBuzz auction on August 25, 2016, for $815,000. Public reports and articles from the time do not explicitly identify or break out a separate buyer's premium in the final sale price, though CharityBuzz auctions typically include one as part of their standard policy (usually added to the hammer price).
Yes, the 2016 auction was validated—the sale was successfully completed after 39 bids, with the winning bid placed by Glenn and Shannon Dellimore. The buyer later stated in interviews that they were prepared to pay up to $2 million for the board, which they described as the "Holy Grail of computers." The transaction is documented in the Apple-1 Registry as a confirmed sale, and the board's provenance aligns across both auctions, including its examination by Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen in May 2016 (just prior to the CharityBuzz sale) and its entry as #75 in the Apple-1 Registry.
4
July-August ex Byte Shop
2014 SOLD for $ 900K by Bonhams
The Apple Computer 1 aka Apple-1, created in 1976, was the first personal computer ready to use, which means that the components were assembled on the printed circuit before the sale. The user had however to connect by himself this card to a keyboard, to a monitor and to a tape injecting a program in BASIC language.
The rapid sequence of events that led in 1976 to the production by Jobs and Wozniak of the Apple-1 has become legendary. After the helpful meeting by Wozniak with the electronics enthusiasts of the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, the two Steves design their machine.
We also know the condition set by Paul Terrell who had just founded his specialist Byte Shop retail operation : he agrees to take 50 motherboards at $ 500 each on the condition that the manufacturing time is less than thirty days. The two Steves mobilize their relatives to meet this requirement in their apartments and garages, without having time to arrange a workshop. In July, the Apple 1 was available for $ 666.66, a figure chosen by Wozniak to bring good luck.
The serial numbers from 01-0011 to 01-0070 were not assigned by Apple and do not fully match with the units sold by Byte Shop. Yet they remain a good indicator of the very first production, before a change of source of the PCB.
These examples of the first personal computer obviously appeal to the museums, provided they are in working condition.
One of the 50 units supplied to Byte Shop was sold for $ 900K by Bonhams on October 22, 2014, lot 286. The motherboard is accompanied by its original Apple-1 cassette interface and is still functioning without having undergone repairs. It was acquired by the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.
Comparison: "ex Byte Shop" Apple-1 (Bonhams Lot 286, sold $905,000 inc. premium on October 22, 2014) vs. Celebration Apple-1 (Registry #75)
The ex Byte Shop (also known as the "Henry Ford" or "Anderson" Apple-1) is a production unit from the first batch of ~50 boards delivered to Paul Terrell's Byte Shop in summer 1976. It was acquired by The Henry Ford Museum and remains one of the best-preserved operational examples.The Celebration is a unique pre-production fiberglass prototype used to validate the final design before full production.
Type/Status
Celebration predates all production units; used to confirm fixes before Byte Shop delivery.
Assembly Date
ex Byte Shop : Summer 1976 (July–August, part of first 50)
Celebration assembled earlier for testing revised layout.
PCB Material
Same material, but Celebration tested durability post-phenolic prototype.
Sockets
Celebration used higher-quality sockets for prototyping; production switched to cheaper ones.
Capacitors/Components
Celebration has hand-sourced/local components and custom fixes (e.g., DRAM refresh mod); production standardized for scale.
Heatsink
Celebration tested alternative thermal setup.
Markings/Modifications
Celebration shows prototype tweaks.
Condition/Functionality
ex Byte Shop prized for pristine production state; Celebration for historical transitional role.
Provenance/Significance
ex Byte Shop represents Apple's first commercial product; Celebration the critical "go/no-go" step enabling it.
Both are 1st-batch-era fiberglass boards with exceptional provenance, but the Celebration is singularly rare as the pre-production "proof" unit, while the ex Byte Shop exemplifies a top-condition retail production board from Apple's breakthrough order.
The rapid sequence of events that led in 1976 to the production by Jobs and Wozniak of the Apple-1 has become legendary. After the helpful meeting by Wozniak with the electronics enthusiasts of the Homebrew Computer Club in Palo Alto, the two Steves design their machine.
We also know the condition set by Paul Terrell who had just founded his specialist Byte Shop retail operation : he agrees to take 50 motherboards at $ 500 each on the condition that the manufacturing time is less than thirty days. The two Steves mobilize their relatives to meet this requirement in their apartments and garages, without having time to arrange a workshop. In July, the Apple 1 was available for $ 666.66, a figure chosen by Wozniak to bring good luck.
The serial numbers from 01-0011 to 01-0070 were not assigned by Apple and do not fully match with the units sold by Byte Shop. Yet they remain a good indicator of the very first production, before a change of source of the PCB.
These examples of the first personal computer obviously appeal to the museums, provided they are in working condition.
One of the 50 units supplied to Byte Shop was sold for $ 900K by Bonhams on October 22, 2014, lot 286. The motherboard is accompanied by its original Apple-1 cassette interface and is still functioning without having undergone repairs. It was acquired by the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.
Comparison: "ex Byte Shop" Apple-1 (Bonhams Lot 286, sold $905,000 inc. premium on October 22, 2014) vs. Celebration Apple-1 (Registry #75)
The ex Byte Shop (also known as the "Henry Ford" or "Anderson" Apple-1) is a production unit from the first batch of ~50 boards delivered to Paul Terrell's Byte Shop in summer 1976. It was acquired by The Henry Ford Museum and remains one of the best-preserved operational examples.The Celebration is a unique pre-production fiberglass prototype used to validate the final design before full production.
Type/Status
Celebration predates all production units; used to confirm fixes before Byte Shop delivery.
Assembly Date
ex Byte Shop : Summer 1976 (July–August, part of first 50)
Celebration assembled earlier for testing revised layout.
PCB Material
Same material, but Celebration tested durability post-phenolic prototype.
Sockets
Celebration used higher-quality sockets for prototyping; production switched to cheaper ones.
Capacitors/Components
Celebration has hand-sourced/local components and custom fixes (e.g., DRAM refresh mod); production standardized for scale.
Heatsink
Celebration tested alternative thermal setup.
Markings/Modifications
Celebration shows prototype tweaks.
Condition/Functionality
ex Byte Shop prized for pristine production state; Celebration for historical transitional role.
Provenance/Significance
ex Byte Shop represents Apple's first commercial product; Celebration the critical "go/no-go" step enabling it.
Both are 1st-batch-era fiberglass boards with exceptional provenance, but the Celebration is singularly rare as the pre-production "proof" unit, while the ex Byte Shop exemplifies a top-condition retail production board from Apple's breakthrough order.
5
ex Jobs and Allen
2024 SOLD for $ 945K by Christie's
Approximately 200 Apple-1 were built. One of them had been kept by Jobs as a demonstration model. It had been fitted with a 4K EPROM bypassing the original PROM monitor for being used as a demonstration unit and had possibly a role in the development of the Apple-II.
Removed from Apple in 1985 after Jobs left the company, it was acquired ca 2005 by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen.
Mounted in a metal casing with a keyboard and a monitor, it was sold for $ 945K from a lower estimate of $ 500K by Christie's on September 10, 2024, lot 10 in the sale of the Allen collection.
Thought by Grok from an ArtHitParade X post :
The Jobs-Allen (also known as the "Demo unit" or "Company Apple") is a modified 2nd-batch production Apple-1 used as an internal demo machine, retained by Apple for demonstrations and kept in Steve Jobs' office until 1985. It features unique company-added enhancements and is housed in a rare prototype metal case.
The ex Byte Shop (also known as the "John Anderson" or "Henry Ford" Apple-1) is a pristine 1st-batch production unit from the initial 50 boards sold to Paul Terrell's Byte Shop, representing one of the first commercial Apple-1s delivered.
Type/Status
Jobs-Allen is later-batch with internal Apple mods for demo purposes; ex Byte Shop is early retail exemplar.
Assembly Date
Jobs-Allen assembled slightly later, with post-production mods for ongoing company use.
PCB Material
Identical; both production-grade post-prototype phase.
Processor/PIA
Jobs-Allen uses plastic variants (common in later units); ex Byte Shop has rarer white ceramic CPU.
RAM
Similar, but Jobs-Allen shows component variation typical of hand-assembly.
Sockets
Comparable; no major differences noted.
Capacitors/Components
Jobs-Allen has mixed colors and added caps for mods; ex Byte Shop standardized blue for production consistency.
Heatsink
Jobs-Allen enhanced for stability during extended demos.
Markings/Modifications
Jobs-Allen heavily modified for faster demos (unique use of breadboard, precursor to Apple II features); ex Byte Shop unmodified factory state.
Case/Accessories
Jobs-Allen in rare metal enclosure for portability/demos; ex Byte Shop bare-board style with add-ons.
Condition/Functionality
Both functional museum pieces; ex Byte Shop rated superb for preservation.
Provenance/Significance
Jobs-Allen tied to internal Apple history and Jobs personally; ex Byte Shop symbolizes retail breakthrough.
Both are among the ~62 surviving Apple-1s (of ~200 produced), but the Jobs-Allen stands out for its modifications and direct Jobs provenance, while the ex Byte Shop is valued for its untouched early-batch purity and role in Apple's market entry. The slight price difference ($945K vs. $905K) reflects inflation and the Jobs-Allen’s unique "from Jobs' office" appeal.
Removed from Apple in 1985 after Jobs left the company, it was acquired ca 2005 by Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen.
Mounted in a metal casing with a keyboard and a monitor, it was sold for $ 945K from a lower estimate of $ 500K by Christie's on September 10, 2024, lot 10 in the sale of the Allen collection.
Thought by Grok from an ArtHitParade X post :
- The Apple-1 computer, highlighted in the post, was a groundbreaking 1976 invention by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, featuring a pre-assembled motherboard and video display capability, which set it apart from contemporaries and catalyzed the home computing revolution, with only about 200 units ever produced.
- This specific Apple-1, removed from Steve Jobs' office in 1985 by engineer Don Hutmacher after Jobs' dismissal, is a rare demo unit with a unique EPROM modification, making it a prototype for the Apple II and one of fewer than 100 surviving units, now auctioned from Paul G. Allen’s collection by Christie’s in 2024.
- Historical context reveals Jobs and Wozniak funded the Apple-1’s development by selling personal items, like a VW van and calculator, and its original $666.66 price tag—chosen for its simplicity—reflected their innovative yet pragmatic approach, challenging the norm of expensive, unassembled computer kits.
The Jobs-Allen (also known as the "Demo unit" or "Company Apple") is a modified 2nd-batch production Apple-1 used as an internal demo machine, retained by Apple for demonstrations and kept in Steve Jobs' office until 1985. It features unique company-added enhancements and is housed in a rare prototype metal case.
The ex Byte Shop (also known as the "John Anderson" or "Henry Ford" Apple-1) is a pristine 1st-batch production unit from the initial 50 boards sold to Paul Terrell's Byte Shop, representing one of the first commercial Apple-1s delivered.
Type/Status
Jobs-Allen is later-batch with internal Apple mods for demo purposes; ex Byte Shop is early retail exemplar.
Assembly Date
Jobs-Allen assembled slightly later, with post-production mods for ongoing company use.
PCB Material
Identical; both production-grade post-prototype phase.
Processor/PIA
Jobs-Allen uses plastic variants (common in later units); ex Byte Shop has rarer white ceramic CPU.
RAM
Similar, but Jobs-Allen shows component variation typical of hand-assembly.
Sockets
Comparable; no major differences noted.
Capacitors/Components
Jobs-Allen has mixed colors and added caps for mods; ex Byte Shop standardized blue for production consistency.
Heatsink
Jobs-Allen enhanced for stability during extended demos.
Markings/Modifications
Jobs-Allen heavily modified for faster demos (unique use of breadboard, precursor to Apple II features); ex Byte Shop unmodified factory state.
Case/Accessories
Jobs-Allen in rare metal enclosure for portability/demos; ex Byte Shop bare-board style with add-ons.
Condition/Functionality
Both functional museum pieces; ex Byte Shop rated superb for preservation.
Provenance/Significance
Jobs-Allen tied to internal Apple history and Jobs personally; ex Byte Shop symbolizes retail breakthrough.
Both are among the ~62 surviving Apple-1s (of ~200 produced), but the Jobs-Allen stands out for its modifications and direct Jobs provenance, while the ex Byte Shop is valued for its untouched early-batch purity and role in Apple's market entry. The slight price difference ($945K vs. $905K) reflects inflation and the Jobs-Allen’s unique "from Jobs' office" appeal.
1976-1978 Cray-1 Supercomputer
2024 SOLD for $ 1.02M by Christie's
Cray Research Inc was created in 1972 by the pioneer computer developer Seymour Cray. The product line was in Wisconsin and the headquarters in Minnesota.
Their first product, the monumental Cray-1 announced in 1975, was the fastest supercomputer of its time with a power capability of 80 M floating point operations per second.
Its C-Shape was conceived to reduce the wire links and increase the speed. It is built around a 64-bit processor clocked at 83 MHz, with 8 MB of RAM and cooled with freon. The 1.90 m machine is surrounded by a cushioned seating 287 cm in diameter.
Kept by the factory whatever the reason, the serial number 12 was transferred in 1981 to the University of Minnesota and repainted in the red and yellow of that institute. It was later acquired by Paul G. Allen.
Nr 12 was sold for $ 1.02M from a lower estimate of $ 150K by Christie's on September 10, 2024, lot 32.
Response by Grok :
Quote
Smith Greenfield @SmithGreenfield Sep 12, 2024
A Cray-1 Supercomputer owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen set a new high for any computer sold at auction when it took $810,000 (£618,320) at Christie’s New York. #PaulAllen #Christies #Auction #BespokeInsurance via @ATG_Editorial https://antiquestradegazette.com/news/2024/auction-record-for-any-computer-as-paul-allen-s-cray-1-sells-at-christie-s/…
Their first product, the monumental Cray-1 announced in 1975, was the fastest supercomputer of its time with a power capability of 80 M floating point operations per second.
Its C-Shape was conceived to reduce the wire links and increase the speed. It is built around a 64-bit processor clocked at 83 MHz, with 8 MB of RAM and cooled with freon. The 1.90 m machine is surrounded by a cushioned seating 287 cm in diameter.
Kept by the factory whatever the reason, the serial number 12 was transferred in 1981 to the University of Minnesota and repainted in the red and yellow of that institute. It was later acquired by Paul G. Allen.
Nr 12 was sold for $ 1.02M from a lower estimate of $ 150K by Christie's on September 10, 2024, lot 32.
Response by Grok :
Quote
Smith Greenfield @SmithGreenfield Sep 12, 2024
A Cray-1 Supercomputer owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen set a new high for any computer sold at auction when it took $810,000 (£618,320) at Christie’s New York. #PaulAllen #Christies #Auction #BespokeInsurance via @ATG_Editorial https://antiquestradegazette.com/news/2024/auction-record-for-any-computer-as-paul-allen-s-cray-1-sells-at-christie-s/…
- The Cray-1 Supercomputer, sold for $810,000 at Christie’s New York, was a groundbreaking 1970s machine designed by Seymour Cray, originally costing $8 million, with its auction price reflecting its rarity and historical significance as a symbol of early computing innovation.
- Paul Allen’s ownership of the Cray-1 ties to his legacy as a Microsoft co-founder and tech philanthropist, with his estate’s recent $3.1 billion Fund for Science and Technology (launched August 2025) continuing to fund cutting-edge research, including AI and bioscience.
1990-2025 Kryptos
2025 SOLD for $ 960K by RR Auction
The full working archive by inventor Jim Sanborn of the Kryptos project installed at CIA headquarters in 1990 in four encrypted copper panels was sold for $ 960K from a lower estimate of $ 300K by RR Auction on November 20, 2025, lot 2001. For reasons of secrecy, no photos were provided in the auction catalogue of the most critical items. The video is shared by the auction house.
That set reveals the secrets of K4 and the promised K5. The lot includes a session with Sanborn for him to personally explains each document and demonstrates how these materials unlock the complete Kryptos mystery. The winning bidder will be the first to learn what lies beyond K4.
Immediate post sale Grok thought :
Quote
RR Auction @RRAuction
SOLD! Jim Sanborn’s complete Kryptos archive has sold for nearly $1 million @RRAuction . NYT has the full story: https://nytimes.com/2025/11/20/science/kryptos-cia-auction-sculpture.html?smid=nytcore-android-share… #RRAuction #Kryptos #JimSanborn
Asking Grok to explain K4 decryption clues :
Grok thought :
Here are all the official clues that Jim Sanborn has publicly released over the years specifically for the unsolved fourth passage (K4) of Kryptos. K4 is 97 characters long and reads:
OBKR UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR
Sanborn has given exactly six clue words (one letter position at a time) that are the correct plaintext letters in those exact positions.Official clues released by Jim Sanborn:
1–21: ?????????????????????
22–25: N O R T
26–30: H E A S T
31–63: ?????????????????????????????????
64–69: B E R L I N
70–74: C L O C K
75–97: ???????????????????????
Therefore the solved portions of K4 plaintext are:?????????????????????NORTHEAST????????????????????????????????????BERLINCLOCK?????????????????????These are the only officially confirmed letters. Everything else you see online (full alleged solutions, “X LAYER TWO”, etc.) is speculation or hoax.Sanborn has repeatedly said that even with all these clues, solving the rest of K4 remains extremely difficult — and as of November 2025, it is still officially unsolved in public. The complete solution is now in the hands of the anonymous buyer who purchased the archive for $962,500.
That set reveals the secrets of K4 and the promised K5. The lot includes a session with Sanborn for him to personally explains each document and demonstrates how these materials unlock the complete Kryptos mystery. The winning bidder will be the first to learn what lies beyond K4.
Immediate post sale Grok thought :
Quote
RR Auction @RRAuction
SOLD! Jim Sanborn’s complete Kryptos archive has sold for nearly $1 million @RRAuction . NYT has the full story: https://nytimes.com/2025/11/20/science/kryptos-cia-auction-sculpture.html?smid=nytcore-android-share… #RRAuction #Kryptos #JimSanborn
- RR Auction announced the sale of artist Jim Sanborn's complete Kryptos archive, including the solution to the sculpture's unsolved fourth encrypted passage (K4), for $962,500 to an anonymous bidder, as detailed in a New York Times article.
- Kryptos, installed at CIA headquarters in 1990, features four encrypted copper panels; while the first three passages were decoded by cryptographers in the 1990s and 2010s using classical ciphers, the 97-character K4 has stumped experts including the NSA for over 35 years.
- Sanborn, now 79, sold the archive to relieve himself of secrecy burdens and fan inquiries, potentially shifting responsibility for revealing K4—once hinted at through clues like "BERLINCLOCK"—to the new owner, who may choose to publicize or withhold it.
Asking Grok to explain K4 decryption clues :
Grok thought :
Here are all the official clues that Jim Sanborn has publicly released over the years specifically for the unsolved fourth passage (K4) of Kryptos. K4 is 97 characters long and reads:
OBKR UOXOGHULBSOLIFBBWFLRVQQPRNGKSSO TWTQSJQSSEKZZWATJKLUDIAWINFBNYP VTTMZFPKWGDKZXTJCDIGKUHUAUEKCAR
Sanborn has given exactly six clue words (one letter position at a time) that are the correct plaintext letters in those exact positions.Official clues released by Jim Sanborn:
- November 2010 → Positions 64–69: N Y P V T T
Plaintext letters: B E R L I N
(He revealed that the ciphertext NYPVTT in positions 64–69 decrypts to BERLIN) - November 2014 → Positions 70–74: M Z F P K
Plaintext letters: C L O C K
(Ciphertext MZFPK decrypts to CLOCK → so together “BERLIN CLOCK”) - November 2020 → Positions 26–34: F L R V Q Q P R N
Plaintext letters: E A S T
(Ciphertext FLRVQQPRN decrypts to EAST → so “EAST”) - January 2020 (actually released early 2020, confirmed later) → Positions 22–25: B B W F
Plaintext letters: N O R T
(Wait, no — corrected: positions 22–25 decrypt to N O R T? Wait, Sanborn actually said “NORTHEAST” together with the next clue)
- Positions 1–5: O B K R U → decrypt to ? (not given directly, but implied by the phrase)
- Final combined 2020 clue: the word sequence is
“NORTHEAST”
Specifically:- Positions 22–25: B B W F → N O R T
- Positions 26–30 (part of the previous EAST clue): already E A S T → so together positions 22–30: N O R T H E A S T
1–21: ?????????????????????
22–25: N O R T
26–30: H E A S T
31–63: ?????????????????????????????????
64–69: B E R L I N
70–74: C L O C K
75–97: ???????????????????????
Therefore the solved portions of K4 plaintext are:?????????????????????NORTHEAST????????????????????????????????????BERLINCLOCK?????????????????????These are the only officially confirmed letters. Everything else you see online (full alleged solutions, “X LAYER TWO”, etc.) is speculation or hoax.Sanborn has repeatedly said that even with all these clues, solving the rest of K4 remains extremely difficult — and as of November 2025, it is still officially unsolved in public. The complete solution is now in the hands of the anonymous buyer who purchased the archive for $962,500.
1990-1991 and 2021 NFT www Source Code by Berners-Lee
2021 SOLD for $ 5.4M by Sotheby's
Tim Berners-Lee was born in London to a family of computer scientists. Trained as a physicist and experienced in software, he is hired in 1984 at the CERN, the European research organization in particle physics, based near Geneva, which was a leading user of the Internet in its infancy.
Providing the CERN staff worldwide with an easy access to scientific information would be highly beneficial to their research. In parallel to his professional duties, Berners-Lee conceives in 1989 to join hyper-text to the Internet. He is authorized by his boss to develop this project. His system is complete with all necessary protocols and languages for the texts and their remote access (HTTP, HTML, URL).
It works. This mesh of informations looks like an infinite spider web. Berners-Lee designates in 1990 his HTML browser as the WorldWideWeb. The web software is offered by the CERN to the public domain on April 30, 1993. 'Sir Tim' was knighted in 2004.
Our global computer based civilization was born with Berners-Lee's web. A promising recent development is the NFT, the first protocol able to offer a guarantee of authenticity to a digital file, whatever it is, including artistic and historical.
On June 15, 2021 Sir Tim minted an NFT-supported digital file gathering elements of his invention from the key period 1990-1991. It edits in totality the original 9,555 line source code of the World Wide Web and the user guide in HTML. Sir Tim added a graphic and a video representations of the code and a 2021 letter reflecting about his creation process for that invention.
The Berners-Lee 1/1 file of the www source code was sold for $ 5.4M by Sotheby's on June 30, 2021, lot 1. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
Providing the CERN staff worldwide with an easy access to scientific information would be highly beneficial to their research. In parallel to his professional duties, Berners-Lee conceives in 1989 to join hyper-text to the Internet. He is authorized by his boss to develop this project. His system is complete with all necessary protocols and languages for the texts and their remote access (HTTP, HTML, URL).
It works. This mesh of informations looks like an infinite spider web. Berners-Lee designates in 1990 his HTML browser as the WorldWideWeb. The web software is offered by the CERN to the public domain on April 30, 1993. 'Sir Tim' was knighted in 2004.
Our global computer based civilization was born with Berners-Lee's web. A promising recent development is the NFT, the first protocol able to offer a guarantee of authenticity to a digital file, whatever it is, including artistic and historical.
On June 15, 2021 Sir Tim minted an NFT-supported digital file gathering elements of his invention from the key period 1990-1991. It edits in totality the original 9,555 line source code of the World Wide Web and the user guide in HTML. Sir Tim added a graphic and a video representations of the code and a 2021 letter reflecting about his creation process for that invention.
The Berners-Lee 1/1 file of the www source code was sold for $ 5.4M by Sotheby's on June 30, 2021, lot 1. Please watch the video shared by Sotheby's.
