One of the few surviving Apple I units, signed by Steve Wozniak and accompanied by a letter from Steve Jobs, has sold for a record-breaking $1.15 million.
The famous "Hatfield" Apple I sold at a Bonhams auction after an apparent tour of the United States in September 2026. It is the highest price an Apple I has reached to date. The auction lasted just 28 minutes and was a competition between two bidders.
Original owner Fred Hatfield bought the machine decades ago for $666.60. In 2013, European auction house Breker sold it for approximately $666,150. Its motherboard, designated #48 in the Apple I registry, was signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. It also came with a letter from Steve Jobs encouraging Hatfield to trade in his computer and $400 for an Apple II motherboard.
"We are delighted with this exceptional result for the 'Hatfield' Apple I, one of the most important milestones in computing history," said Ian Ehling, Director of Fine Books & Manuscripts, North America, Bonhams. "It was an honor to offer Apple's first product during the company's 50th anniversary year."
The value of the Apple I as a collector's item has risen significantly over the past decade. Other units, both working and non-functional, have sold for approximately $300,000 to $500,000. A restored Apple I signed by Wozniak on the CPU sold for $340,100 in 2022.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing