Last week marked the 12-year anniversary of Apple Inc AAPL co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs stepping down from the leadership role he held from 1997 to 2011.
On the anniversary of Jobs' departure as Apple's CEO, several Apple-associated items also concluded their auctions. Here are some of the standout items that were sold.
What Happened: RR Auction sold several pieces related to Jobs and Apple as part of its “Apple, Jobs and Computer Hardware” auction. The auction follows several pieces of Jobs memorabilia that have fetched six figures in the last several years.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights from the RR Auction.
Steve Jobs Handwritten Ad Copy For Apple-1: This unique piece of Apple memorabilia sold for $175,759, which was around 6x the original estimate prior to the auction starting. The rough draft showcased Jobs' vision for advertising the Apple-1, signed as "Steven Jobs." The piece also features the home address and phone number of Jobs’ parents, which was the original headquarters for Apple.
“The sale of this original handwritten Apple-1 advertisement draft by Steve Jobs is a remarkable testament to the visionary genius of one of the most influential figures in modern technology,” RR Auction Executive VP Bobby Livingston said. “This artifact offers a tangible connection to the inception of the personal computing revolution.”
Steve Jobs And Steve Wozniak Signed Check: A check from 1976 signed by Apple co-founders Jobs and Wozniak was sold for $135,261. The check is dated March 19, 1976 and is listed as check #2. The check was a temporary one, issued after Apple’s first-ever bank account had been opened.
Apple’s official founding date is April 1, 1976, meaning this check is older than Apple. The check also came before Apple signed its agreement for Jobs and Wozniak to each have 45% of the company and Ron Wayne to own 10%.
Jobs and Wozniak signed the check, and it was issued to Ramlor Inc, a printed circuit board company, for $116.97. The check represents one of Apple's earliest financial transactions, with a pre-auction estimate of $50,000.
“This temporary Apple check is one of the first documents ever signed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, predating the famous Apple agreement with Ron Wayne,” Livingston said. “The second Apple check ever written paid for the initial batch of Apple 1 circuit boards – the financial transaction that started the revolution.”
Apple-1 Computer: A fully functional Apple-1 Computer signed by Wozniak was sold for $223,520. The estimate for the item prior to auction was $200,000.
Apple iPhone: A factory-sealed first-generation iPhone with 8GB storage fetched $55,999 at auction, surpassing its $20,000 pre-auction estimate by more than double.
1984 Prototype Mouse: A prototype mouse for the 1984 Apple computer was sold for $17,269.
iPod Touch First Generation Sealed: A sealed first-generation iPod Touch sold for $4,533.
Jobs Business Cards: The auction featured multiple business cards previously owned by Jobs. A NeXT business card linked to Jobs fetched $4,520, while a Pixar card associated with him went for $3,245.
Employee Award: A five-year service award for an Apple employee signed by Jobs sold for $13,589.
Tim Cook Signed iPhone: While the auction featured mostly older items related to Jobs and Wozniak, an Apple iPhone 11 signed by current Apple CEO Tim Cook sold for $1,513.
Related Link: Tim Cook's True Reason For Joining Steve Jobs In Apple's Journey, It Wasn't About The Money
Why It’s Important: Apple is the most valuable company in the world today and home of iconic products like the MacBook, iPhone, iPod and iPad. Jobs was instrumental in the creation of many of Apple’s top products.
Since Jobs' death in 2011, items with his autograph have been highly sought after by collectors and fans of Apple products.
Sealed Apple products have also grown in popularity and demand.
A sealed original iPod was just sold for a record $29,000 with a buyout offer approved by shareholders on the fractional investment platform Rally.
Along with the sealed iPod, Rally has offered several Apple and Jobs-related products over the years, allowing investors and Apple enthusiasts an opportunity to capitalize on the rising value of these collectibles.
Rally has an Apple 1 computer signed by Wozniak, a 1983 Apple Lisa Computer, a 1984 MacWorld #1 magazine signed by Jobs, a famous 1983 jacket worn by Jobs and several other items.
With Jobs no longer with the world, items bearing his signature might see a continued rise in value. As one of the top companies in the world, Apple continues to have a large following and many of its early items will be seen as collector's items for years to come.
Read Next: Exclusive: Rally Rd CEO On Video Games, Apple Assets And Growth For Fractional Investing
Photo: Shutterstock
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