- HANDWRITTEN APPLE SERIAL NUMBER FINALLY ANALYSIS SERIAL NUMBERS
- HANDWRITTEN APPLE SERIAL NUMBER FINALLY ANALYSIS MAC
In addition to the check, RR Auction is selling a yearbook signed by Steve Jobs, photos of Jobs as a freshman in college, an Atari job application signed by Steve Jobs, expected to be priced over $300,000, business cards of Steve Jobs and other signed memorabilia. There are prototypes and early examples of computer mice created by Doug Engelbart, prototypes of Pong from the collection of its creator Allan Alcorn, as well as original Apple devices. The check is part of a themed sale that aims to trace the history of personal computers through documents and objects. The check could sell for more given that the auction ends on March 18. So far, the check has been bid for over $45,000, with the next bid set for over $50,000. The auction site says that, based on the date, the check was likely used to pay for parts used to assemble the second batch of Apple-1 computers. The check was issued the same month as Wozniak’s demonstration of the first Apple-1 prototype at the Homebrew Computer Company in Palo Alto, California. Old check signed by Steve Jobs up for auctionĭated July 15, 1976, the “Apple Computer Company” check is made payable to Kierulff Electronics for an amount of $3,430. On the other hand, we will surely never know why the latter chose to mark these models in particular. Achim Baqué notes that it is likely that the founder of Apple simply forgot to be the source of these writings, not to mention that he never officially confirmed that it was not him.
HANDWRITTEN APPLE SERIAL NUMBER FINALLY ANALYSIS SERIAL NUMBERS
This is how after 45 years, followed by 3 months of intensive investigation, the name of the author of these serial numbers has finally been revealed. The company then compared the models, in addition to several other photos of the serial numbers in question, and compared them with handwriting samples from people involved in the development of the Apple-1s. In order to solve the old mystery, Achim went to the headquarters of PSA, an authentication company specializing in handwriting, with two computers in hand. WE FINALLY KNOW WHO WRITTEN THE SERIAL NUMBERS ON THE APPLE-1Įnter Achim Baqué, the man behind Apple-1 Registry, a huge database of all known Apple-1s to date. For more than four decades, other names will be mentioned: Daniel Kottke, the assembler of certain models, as well as other members of the original team. But, again, the founder of Apple would also have said that he is not the author. Therefore, the other prime target is none other than Steve Jobs. Only, the engineer has already denied the rumors. Naturally the first suspicions fell on Steve Wozniak himself. Since then, the question remains unanswered: who could have written these serial numbers?įor 45 years, theories have been flying around. Of these, 80 sport a handwritten serial number. Today there are only 82 left in circulation. That same year, the Apple brand launched its very first computer, the Apple-1, designed by Steve Wozniak.
In 1976, Apple was still a long way from being the company that made $1 billion a day. Apple-1: this 45-year-old mystery is finally solved The work consisted in particular of comparing the writing of letters sent by Jobs and authenticated with that found on the Apple I. So of course the method used to achieve this result is not an exact science, but it still took several months to get there. Indeed, some graphological research carried out by the company PSA – one of the most renowned in the field – tend to prove that it is indeed the iconic leader of Apple who is at the origin of this specificity. Except that a new analysis assures the opposite.
The former CEO did not really appreciate seeing machines signed with his autographs increase in value over time: he therefore also denied being the one who wrote these serial numbers. Nothing surprising so far, since the entrepreneur willingly answers questions from journalists who meet him and even takes the time to discuss with those who follow him.įor Steve Jobs, however, that is another story. Wow, for its part, had already claimed not to be at the origin of this inscription. However, we know that at the time of the creation of these devices, it was mainly the two co-founders of Apple who were at the helm: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. This is a serial number which is written by hand, and whose author has never come forward.
HANDWRITTEN APPLE SERIAL NUMBER FINALLY ANALYSIS MAC
It must be said that the product was still released in the 1970s, in a fairly limited edition compared to the millions of current Mac prints.Īmong these nuggets, some contained until today a secret that no one had been able to penetrate with accuracy. It is indeed sold at auction for several hundred thousand euros, the pieces becoming particularly rare on the market.
Apple’s first computer, soberly called Apple I, has now become a real object of collection.