14 DAY TRIAL // An original Apple 1 computer auctioned off on Thursday failed to fetch the huge price estimated by Christie’s but nevertheless went off to a generous buyer who parted with several hundred thousand dollars to own this small piece of Apple Inc. history.
Christie’s estimate of $400,000 - $600,000 (€323,000 - €480,000) for the “Ricketts Apple-1 Personal Computer” was apparently off by a few thousand bills, as the computer only managed to sell for US$365,000 (€294,485) at an auction yesterday.
Less than originally projected
As you’ll agree, that’s still a hefty amount of cash. However, compared to other auctions that saw identical computers go to rich collectors, the selling price was a bit of a disappointment.
For instance, the Henry Ford organization paid close to a million (US$905,000 / €730,000) for one of these things a few months ago. Adding insult to injury, the one auctioned off by Christie’s yesterday was actually the only Apple 1 in existence known to have been sold out of Steve Jobs’ legendary garage where he and Woz started their company, Apple Computer.
Why so little?
One probable reason the computer failed to fetch the estimated sum by Christie’s is that there weren’t enough computer collectors at the auction, held at Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum.
Another could be the fact that the system lacked some components, or didn’t come with all the papers required to lift the price higher. The one that sold off for close to a million, for example, came with a letter written by Steve Jobs. Some would argue that the letter itself is more valuable than the computer.
According to a NY Times interview with vintage computer enthusiast Corey Cohen, there are a plurality of aspects to look at when you’re faced with having to estimate the value of these fragile machines.
“I’m asked to determine, number one, is it real? A few years ago someone attempted to sell a replica. And I bring equipment with me to test whether I can turn it on. Not every board is worth the risk of turning on. There are three components that could explode and destroy the board. There’s a vast difference between a basket case and a working system,” he said.
Cohen added, “From a collector perspective, it’s about being able to say, ‘I have a working unit.’ Having an actual working unit is bragging rights. It’s also important how original it is.”
Cohen was actually called in by Christie’s to help estimate the price of the Ricketts Apple 1 Computer.
