Auction Will Feature Rare Signed Apple-1 Computer

A functional Apple-1 unit signed by Steve Wozniak is set to be auctioned at Bonhams until October 14, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Computers

Auction Will Feature Rare Signed Apple-1 Computer

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Bonhams is auctioning the rare Hatfield Apple-1 board, a functional piece of computing history that includes original peripherals and documentation. The auction is expected to conclude on October 14, 2026, with the unit potentially fetching over $800,000.

Why it matters

This auction provides a window into the origins of the personal computing revolution, as the lot includes a letter from Steve Jobs offering an Apple II exchange. The high valuation highlights the enduring collector demand for one of the approximately 74 surviving units from the original production run of 200.

The Hatfield board features the original MOS 6502 processor and Sprague capacitors, alongside an integrated cassette interface. It is officially registered as unit 48 in the surviving inventory of the 200 boards originally produced.

The players

Steve Wozniak

He is the co-founder of Apple who designed the original Apple-1 using the MOS 6502 processor.

Steve Jobs

The late Apple co-founder famously helped fund the first production run by selling a van and a calculator.

Fred Hatfield

He was the original purchaser of this specific Apple-1 unit in 1976.

Bonhams

This international auction house is managing the sale of the vintage computer.

The details

The lot features a unit originally purchased by Fred Hatfield in 1976 and later repaired and signed by Steve Wozniak. It includes original manuals, an Apple-1 Owners Club invitation, and a 1978 letter from Steve Jobs that attempted to trade the board for an Apple II.

Fred Hatfield purchased the Apple-1 board in 1976.
Steve Jobs sent a trade-in offer letter in January 1978.
The board previously sold at a Cologne auction in 2013.
The current Bonhams auction will conclude on October 14, 2026.

The Tech Race

The Apple-1 represents the dawn of the personal computing era, bridging the gap between hobbyist engineering and commercial consumer products. This auction follows the documented trend of the Apple-1 becoming an increasingly rare investment-grade asset.

For collectors and tech enthusiasts, this sale demonstrates the escalating market value of early hardware that was once sold for $666.66. It serves as a reminder of how quickly hobbyist kits have evolved into the high-end consumer technology market that defines daily life today.

The takeaway

Collectors tracking high-end technology sales should note the premium placed on original documentation and verified provenance, such as the Hatfield board's inclusion of Wozniak's signature. This auction underscores the transition of experimental 1970s hardware into highly sought-after artifacts.