The 'Hatfield' Apple-1, signed by creator Steve Wozniak and accompanied by typed letter signed by Steve Jobs to the original owner, Fred Hatfield.Courtesy Bonhams

Rare Working Apple-1 Signed by Steve Wozniak Could Fetch $800,000 at Auction

by · ARTnews

A rare, working Apple-1 computer signed by Steve Wozniak is heading to auction at Bonhams in New York, where it is expected to fetch between $500,000 and $800,000.

Known as the “Hatfield” Apple-1 after its original owner, Fred Hatfield, the computer will headline Bonhams’ History of Science, Technology & Computing sale, which runs online from October 4 through October 14. The machine also comes with a 1978 letter signed by Steve Jobs offering Hatfield a trade-in for an Apple II.

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Built by Wozniak in 1976, the Apple-1 was the company’s first product and an important step in the development of the personal computer. Unlike many competing machines at the time, it was sold with a fully assembled motherboard and integrated video output. Fewer than 75 verified Apple-1 computers are known to survive, according to Bonhams, with even fewer remaining operational.

The Hatfield machine is listed as No. 48 on the Apple-1 Registry. Hatfield, who was an employee of Computer Data Systems at the time, bought the computer during Apple’s early days and later wrote to the company about the limited amount of software available for it. Jobs responded in 1978, offering to let him trade it in for the recently released Apple II. Hatfield declined and kept the original machine.

Later, Wozniak signed the computer’s motherboard, giving the lot signatures from both of Apple’s famous co-founders.

“The Apple-1 stands among the most important milestones in computing history, and the ‘Hatfield’ example is among the most compelling surviving examples,” Ian Ehling, Bonhams’ director of Fine Books & Manuscripts in North America, said in a statement.

The sale arrives during Apple’s 50th anniversary year. Bonhams will also offer several other pieces of early Apple hardware, including an Apple Lisa 1 estimated at $50,000 to $80,000, an Apple Paladin prototype estimated at $40,000 to $60,000, and a clear-plastic prototype Macintosh Portable estimated at $10,000 to $15,000.

The Apple-1 will be on view at Bonhams in San Francisco from September 30 through October 1 before heading to New York, where it will be displayed from October 4 through October 14.