If you happen to own anything from Apple’s early history, it might be worth something. Case in point: An early check signed by Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak is up for sale and already fetching over $50,000 at auction.
The check isn’t like the company’s other historic memorabilia, such as the rare Apple-1 Computer. But it’s still unique. RR Auction says it's the second check Apple ever issued.
"This invaluable artifact dating back to March 19, 1976, was issued to a printed circuit board company called Ramlor, Inc., marking one of the earliest payments made by the iconic tech company during its inception,” RR Auction says.
The check, from Wells Fargo Bank, was also written 13 days prior to the company’s official founding on April 1, 1976. As a result, the check doesn’t have an official Apple logo on it, like others do from the company’s early days. But it does contain the same routing and account numbers.
Both Jobs and Wozniak signed the check because at the time any expenditures over $100 had to be approved by at least two co-founders, RR Auction says. “Experts believe that this payment of $116.97 to Ramlor, Inc., a Palo Alto-based printed circuit board maker, was likely linked to the production of the first Apple-1 Computers,” the auction house adds.
Hence, if you buy the check, you’re owning an early piece of Apple’s history. The Apple-1 originally launched in 1976 as the company’s first product, which retailed for $666. The company only made about 200 units, with 175 of them sold.
It's unclear who owns the check. But it looks like someone at Ramlor Inc. decided to hold on to the item, recognizing its historic importance. Bidding on the check has already reached over $55,000 with the auction set to end on Aug. 24.
