In what should be a huge deal for nerds and collectors like me, a rare batch of Steve Jobs-era, Apple-related items has hit the auction block. Bidding runs through January 29, 2026, as the company heads toward its 50th anniversary.
I’ve watched collectors go wild over old-school tech, and this Apple auction is going to be a big deal. Take the headline item, for example: a $500 Wells Fargo check dated March 16, 1976, signed by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. It’s made out to Howard Cantin for Apple-1 circuit board work.
CBS News reported that the sale is handled by Boston-based RR Auction and covers 191 lots. They range from early hardware to childhood keepsakes that were kept in the family for decades.
The $500 check
Here’s the catch, some of these items may actually be affordable, excluding the check, of course.
That check is on another level for most people. The LA Times reported that bidding had already surpassed $200,000 early on. The final price is expected to land north of $500,000.
You can track the bidding progress at RRAuction.com.
And yes, that check is definitely the star of the auction. Artnet highlights why collectors keep circling back to this historic piece of paper, the date on it predates the April 1, 1976 partnership agreement. In other words, it captures a moment when the two Steves were taking their first real steps toward building what would become Apple.
Other items in the auction
WIRED reported that most of the personal items come from Jobs’ stepbrother, John Chovanec. Chovanec ended up with objects from Jobs’ childhood bedroom and is now letting them go.
The National also reported that the personal stash includes bow ties, Bob Dylan 8-tracks, and a Volkswagen repair manual with handwritten notes from Jobs himself.
There’s also a desk from his Los Altos home, tied to Apple’s origin story.
According to RR Auction, the tech side is stacked, including an Apple-1 Celebration prototype board billed as the earliest known fiberglass Apple-1 prototype. It carries an estimate of around $500,000.
Another standout is a factory-sealed first-generation 2007 iPhone, estimated at $50,000, plus the first-ever issue of Macworld signed by both Jobs and Wozniak. That magazine comes with a hefty $100,000 estimate.
As Auction Report put it, the auction closes on January 29 with a 30-minute rule starting at 7 p.m. Eastern. Late bids can keep the clock ticking.
One more thing: watch the fine print. RR Auction’s listing notes a 25% buyer’s premium, which gets added on top of the winning bid. Factor that in before you jump in.
