An Apple business card signed by Steve Jobs sold for more than $180,000. Provided by RR Auction
It's been 13 years since Steve Jobs passed away, but the Apple founder's reputation hasn't faded in the slightest.
This weekend's auction featured a collection of rare items autographed by Jobs, each of which commanded a premium, but none were more expensive than a 1983 business card, which sold for $181,183. This is significantly higher than RR Auction's expected winning bid of over $10,000.
This card is rare and was one of the earliest business cards signed by Jobs. To date, fewer than five of his Apple Computer business cards have been authenticated and signed by Jobs.
“The sale of an Apple business card signed by Steve Jobs for over $180,000 sets a new standard for signed business cards,” Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auctions, said in a statement. . “This is a testament to Jobs' enduring legacy and Apple's tremendous impact on the modern world.”
What I got a little cheaper was a check signed by Jobs. In 1976, the check was worth $13.86 to Elmar Electronics. Sold for $176,850. This check predates Apple Computer's formal founding. It was likely used to purchase electronic components used in the construction of his first Apple-1 prototype. Since the company did not yet officially exist, Jobs wrote “Apple Computer” and the address of a garage in Palo Alto in his upper left corner.
The check's pre-auction estimate was more than $50,000.
Mr. Jobs usually didn't sign autographs, but he made an exception in 2003 when some fans swapped seats during a screening of the film. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl That way Jobs and his family could all sit together.
“As I sat in the back of the room, patiently waiting for the movie to start, a man with several children tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I could move a seat so they could all sit comfortably. I happily accepted, and while on the road, I suddenly realized that I had just talked to Steve Jobs.'' It was read aloud. “I decided to wait to talk to him until I left the room because I didn't want to upset him before he was willing to enjoy the movie. …His reply was 'of course,' and I grabbed the paper. The only thing I could give him was a pen and my movie ticket, signed with the palm of his hand.”
That ticket stub sold for $14,653.
