Wozniak-signed Apple I 'Hatfield' computer sells for record $1.15 million at auction

Auction house Bonhams has announced that an unidentified buyer paid $1,148,200 for the Apple I known as the "Hatfield" example, a computer signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Built in 1976, it is one of very few surviving specimens of Apple's first product that still work.

A rare machine with a letter from Jobs

The computer was originally sold for $666.60 to a man named Fred Hatfield. Only 74 Apple I units are verified to exist, and this one is number 48 on the registry. Along with Wozniak's signature, the buyer receives a letter from fellow co-founder Steve Jobs encouraging Hatfield to send in his motherboard to be upgraded to the Apple II. The lot also includes the original Apple I operation manual, a cassette operating manual, an invitation to the Apple I Owners Club, a custom power supply, and a period monitor and keyboards.

Price beat expectations

The sale took place during Apple's 50th anniversary year. Bonhams promoted it and displayed the machine in New York. Bidding reportedly came down to two people, who pushed the price well past the expected top estimate of $800,000. The same computer sold for $671,400 at auction in 2013.

Bonhams' Ian Ehling described the result as exceptional and said it was an honor to offer Apple's first product in the company's anniversary year.

About the computer

The Apple I was not aimed at ordinary consumers: it shipped without a power supply, keyboard or monitor. This unit has 8KB of RAM and a MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, enough to run Apple Integer Basic and a few games using the optional Apple Cassette Interface.

Bonhams says Jobs's letter shows how personally involved he and Wozniak were in Apple's early days, from designing and producing products to running customer support. Hatfield declined the upgrade offer and later sold the machine for $40,000. He told The New York Times in 2013 that he spent the money on dinners and nights out on Frenchmen Street in his hometown of New Orleans.