14 DAY TRIAL // A longtime Apple employee (possibly retired) is trying to cash in on two of the iconic rainbow logos that used to be hung on the walls of Apple’s HQ in Cupertino by selling them on auction. According to the listings over at Bonhams, the fetch price isn’t very steep, but the items’ condition isn’t pristine either.
According to the description, the winner of the auction will enter possession of “Two original exterior office building signs, approximately 46 x 49 x 1 1/2 inches and 33 1/2 x 36 x 6 inches, each with separate stem piece.”
The larger sign is reportedly made of stiff foam, while the smaller sign is made of metal-backed fiberglass. Both have vinyl-applied coloring and both show some degree of wear and tear, especially one of the items, which shows severe craquelure (a network of fine cracks in the paint).
“[...] edgewear to both signs, some colors with slight pealing at transitions, larger sign with one color showing significant craquelure, both with stray marks and outdoor wear,” reads the notice.
The larger sign was reportedly taken from the east side of building 3, where it could be seen from a great distance, especially if you were to be headed north on highway 280.
Removed from the Cupertino company’s headquarters in 1997 and given to a “longtime” Apple staffer, the logos do indeed make a fine collector’s piece. Bonhams explains:
“The first Apple Computer, Inc. logo was actually a sketch of Isaac Newton sitting under a tree, an apple dangling above his head. Less than a year after its introduction, the Newton sketch was replaced by the Rainbow Logo, commissioned at Steve Jobs' request. Jobs appreciated the simplicity of the apple (with a bite taken out of it, so that no one would confuse it with a tomato), and also insisted on the use of colors to ‘humanize’ the company. The Rainbow Logo was in service from 1976 until 1997, when it was revised into the monochromatic version in use today.”
The current bid on these Apple logos is unknown, but Bonhams estimates their value at $10,000 (approx. €7,300) – $15,000 (approx. €11,000). Considering there’s no circuitry involved, there shouldn’t be too many wealthy collectors desperate to outbid their peers and get their hands on these admittedly iconic artifacts.
Also note that the signs aren’t made from any fancy materials, and considering their considerable stature and toy-ish appearance, they really don’t match anything else but a garage. Still, $10,000 (€7,300) is really a small price to pay to own a piece of Apple history, especially if money isn’t a problem.