Very first Apple check & early Apple-1 motherboard sold for $5 million combined

In a landmark moment for tech history collectors, a high-profile auction celebrating the 50th anniversary of Apple has concluded with a staggering $8,153,074 in sales—solidifying its place as one of the most significant memorabilia events in Silicon Valley lore. At the heart of this extraordinary sale was a seemingly modest beige Wells Fargo Bank check, dated March 16, 1976, payable to Howard Cantin for $500. But this was no ordinary check—it bore the unmistakable blue ink signature of Steve Jobs and represented the earliest known financial transaction drawn from Apple’s original bank account.

Encapsulated in a PSA-certified clear plastic holder, the check sold for an eye-popping $2,409,886, making it the crown jewel of the “Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction,” hosted by RR Auction. The sale attracted global attention, not just for its eye-watering figures but for the intimate glimpse it offered into the formative days of one of the world’s most influential companies.

“This is the most important financial document in Apple history,” declared Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction. “It captures Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak’s first true business transaction, and the final result shows that collectors recognized its significance above any other Apple material ever brought to market.”

But the check was just the beginning. The auction featured an eclectic and deeply personal array of items that traced Jobs’ journey from a curious tinkerer to a global icon. Among the standout pieces were his collection of vintage Bob Dylan 8-track cassettes—an homage to the musician who profoundly influenced Jobs’ worldview and creative ethos. These tapes weren’t just music; they were artifacts of inspiration, echoing the counterculture spirit that Jobs carried into the tech revolution.

Also up for grabs were early Apple computers, including rare prototypes and fully functional models that marked pivotal moments in personal computing. Collectors bid fiercely on these machines, recognizing them not just as hardware but as milestones in human innovation. The auction also featured Jobs’ signature bow ties—a sartorial choice that became as iconic as his product launches—offering a rare, personal touch to the otherwise high-tech offerings.

The sale’s total of over $8 million underscores the enduring fascination with Jobs’ legacy and the cultural weight of Apple’s origin story. Each item sold was more than a relic; it was a piece of the puzzle that explains how a startup in a garage transformed into a trillion-dollar empire that reshaped how we live, work, and communicate.

For collectors, historians, and tech enthusiasts, the auction was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a tangible connection to the birth of the digital age. The record-breaking prices paid for these artifacts reflect not only their rarity but the deep emotional and historical resonance they hold. In an era where technology evolves at breakneck speed, these items serve as anchors—reminders of the human ingenuity, ambition, and sometimes even serendipity that sparked the revolution.

As the dust settles on this historic auction, one thing is clear: the legacy of Steve Jobs and the early days of Apple continue to captivate the world. Whether it’s a check, a cassette, or a circuit board, each piece tells a story—a story of vision, risk, and the relentless pursuit of the future. And for those lucky enough to walk away with a piece of that story, the value is truly priceless.

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