An Apple-1 computer sold at auction has set a new record of $1,148,200. The same machine last sold in 2013 for $686,000, and the latest result shows its value has continued to climb.
The machine is known as the "Hatfield" Apple-1, named after its original owner, Fred Hatfield. The motherboard is signed by Steve Wozniak, and the computer came with a letter signed by Steve Jobs. In that letter, Apple offered to trade the machine in for an Apple II. The offer was made after Hatfield wrote to Apple complaining about the limited software options for the machine. Hatfield declined the offer, and the machine remained in his hands.
The Hatfield Apple-1 is in full working order and can be traced directly back to its original purchaser. Those qualities added significant appeal for collectors, and they helped drive the price well above the amount paid in 2013. The sale took place in an online auction run by Bonhams.
The result underscores how rare early Apple hardware has become as a collectible. Vintage computers with documented provenance and working condition continue to attract strong interest, and this sale marks one of the highest prices yet for an Apple-1.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing