An original manual for the Apple-1, Apple’s first computer, has sold for $12,296 in a Boston-area auction.
The original vintage Apple-1 Operation Manual issued by the Apple Computer Company circa 1976, 12 pages, features Apple’s original logo on the front cover, designed by third Apple co-founder Ron Wayne and showing Isaac Newton seated beneath a tree, with a shining apple dangling overhead.
The Operation Manual provides instructions for getting the system up and running, using the system monitor, and expanding the system, and features an impressive fold-out schematic of the Apple-1 computer.
Also included was a page headed “6502 Hex Monitor Listing,” for an innovative memory program devised by Steve Wozniak which is commonly called the ‘Woz Monitor.’
The manual was expected to bring over $10,000 before it went up for auction. The winning bid was by “a technology entrepreneur from the northeastern United States” who wants to stay anonymous, RR Auction said. The auction ended on Wednesday, July 10.
Although 12-page document had grid-shaped toning, a small tear, and a circular stain on the front cover, it was described as being in “very good to fine condition.” The winning bid also grabbed a pair of glossy photos signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak — one featuring the Apple-1, the second Wozniak with fellow co-founder Steve Jobs.
Only about 200 Apple-1 systems were ever produced, and 175 were actually sold. Most were hand-built by Jobs and Wozniak. Around 65 original Apple-1 manuals are thought to still exist, making them even rarer than the computers they accompanied.
