Rare Functional Apple I Displayed in Boston

A historic, hand-assembled Apple I computer is being showcased in Boston before its upcoming October auction.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Computers

Rare Functional Apple I Displayed in Boston

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Bonhams in Boston has put a functional Apple I computer on display for potential buyers to view. The rare device, one of only 200 originally manufactured, is expected to fetch up to $800,000 at auction.

Why it matters

The sale highlights the soaring market value for early personal computing hardware compared to its original commercial release. It serves as a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a piece of history that helped launch the modern computer industry.

This functional unit includes its original circuit board, keyboard, monitor, and tape recorder. Of the 200 units hand-assembled in 1976, experts believe only 75 remain in existence today.

The players

Bonhams

This is a privately owned international auction house that specializes in fine art, antiques, and historic collectibles.

Steve Jobs

He was the co-founder of Apple who played a central role in the design and marketing of the company's earliest computing hardware.

Fred Hatfield

He is a previous owner of the historic computer who sold the device in 2013.

The details

The exhibition features a circuit board signed by the creators alongside a 1978 letter written by Steve Jobs to former owner Fred Hatfield. The unit remains fully functional despite its age, reflecting the durable hand-assembly techniques used during the company's inception.

Apple I computers first went on sale in 1976.
Steve Jobs wrote a letter to Fred Hatfield in 1978.
Fred Hatfield sold the device for $40,000 in 2013.
The unit is on display in Boston from September 21-23, 2026.
The auction for the device is scheduled for October 4, 2026.

The Tech Race

The emergence of the Apple I computer signaled the birth of the personal computer, marking a shift away from room-sized industrial machines. This auction underscores the ongoing evolution of the tech industry, where early hardware has transitioned from functional tools to high-value historical assets.

For tech enthusiasts, this display offers a rare chance to see the hardware that bridged the gap between enthusiast kits and modern consumer machines. The high valuation highlights how historical scarcity continues to drive the market for vintage technological artifacts.

The takeaway

Collectors viewing these early machines see not just a computer, but a blueprint for the modern digital era. Those interested in vintage tech should note that provenance, such as the included Steve Jobs letter, remains the primary driver of value for these iconic devices.