Steve Jobs' handwritten ad for Apple-1 computer sells for Rs 1.4 crore at auction

A handwritten advertisement crafted by Apple's visionary founder, Steve Jobs, for the iconic Apple-1 Computer has recently fetched a remarkable sum of $175,759 (equivalent to about ₹1.4 crore) at an auction conducted by Boston-based RR Auction.

It includes two Polaroid images of the functional prototype, captured at The Byte Shop in California. These images provide a glimpse of an entire Apple-1 computer board, complete with a keyboard and monitor. Additionally, a photograph captures the screen display of an Apple Basic program. In one image annotated by Jobs himself, he humorously attributes the fuzziness to camera movement.

Details of the letter 

The ad bears Steve Jobs' signature in lowercase letters along with his full name, "Steven Jobs". Contact details, including the phone number and address of his parent's residence, where the early Apple operations began, are also listed: "11161 Crist dr., Los Altos, Ca 94022, (415) 968-3596."

Described as a "rough draft specification sheet for the Apple-1," the advertisement was penned neatly in black ink on an off-white 8.5 x 11 binder sheet. The auction house notes that Jobs handed this advertisement to the consignor during a visit to his garage in 1976.

The ad, titled "Apple Computer-1," outlines the use of microprocessors like the 6800, 6501, or 6502. Jobs emphasized that 6501 or 6502 are recommended due to the availability of BASIC. The advertisement intriguingly includes technical details such as RAM capacity, terminal input and output, expansion capabilities, and the inclusion of monitor software.

Interestingly, Jobs mentioned "basic on the way (ROM)" in the ad, although this never materialized for the Apple-1 but eventually became a reality for the Apple 2. The ad concludes with a price quote of $75 for the "board only + manual," signifying a truly groundbreaking offer for the time.

Notably, Apple historian Corey Cohen confirms that the technical specifications detailed in this handwritten advertising draft align closely with the original advertisement for the Apple-1, initially published in the July 1976 issue of Interface Magazine. This advertisement marked the public debut of a company that would go on to become one of the world's most valuable and influential tech giants.