Extremely rare ‘Schoolsky’ Apple-I computer could fetch $881,000 at auction

FORGET Apple’s $1800 iPhone X. The company has another product for sale which costs a lot more than most people earn in a year.

IF YOU thought $1800 for Apple’s new iPhone X was a little steep, you might not want to look at how much you could be paying for one of the company’s computers.

It might have been four decades since it was considered a cutting-edge gadget, but an Apple-I computer is currently for sale in an auction has already attracted bids of $A258,000.

Even more wild is the value estimated for the “extremely rare ‘Schoolsky’ Apple-I computer” is $A881,000, according to the auction house with the listing.

“Bid to win one of the first models of the Apple-I computer, originally owned by friend and associate of Steve Wozniak, Adam Schoolsky,” the listing reads.

“The Apple-I Computer is considered the origin of the personal computer revolution and was built in Steve Jobs’ parents’ home on Crist Drive in Los Altos, CA.

“200 were hand-built by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs’ sister, and their team, but it is believed that less than 60 are still in existence.”

Built using an Apple-I “NTI” board acquired from internal stock when Adam Schoolsky was an employee of the company, the device has since been authenticated by a historian.

There is also a documentation package with this computer, which the historian scored as a nine out of 10 in terms of condition.

So if you have a spare $A259,000 or more, why not make the bid — but be quick as there is only 17 hours remaining at the time of writing this article.

“Schoolsky” Apple-I Items Included in Set:

• Apple-I original Operation Manual

• Apple original Basic Users Manual

• Apple-I original Cassette Interface Manual

• Apple-I original cassette (dis-assembler)

• Apple-I original advertisement

• Apple-I original box

• Apple original price list, 1977

• Miscellaneous correspondence between LCF Group and Adam Schoolsky

• Three original issues of Silicon Gulch Gazette (1976 — 1978) addressed to Adam Schoolsky

• Original copy, in mint condition, of the 40-page First West Coast Computer Faire Conference Program dated April 15-17, 1977

• Early copy of the Zaltair brochure, created by Steve Wozniak and Adam Schoolsky as a spoof document to be distributed at the First West Coast Computer Faire Conference

• Apple ][+ Keyboard with Apple-I adaptor

• Stancor power supply transformers

What else would you rather spent $259,000 on? Continue the conversation in the comments below or with Matthew Dunn on Facebook and Twitter.