Rare 'Hatfield' Apple I Computer Returns to Auction with Jobs and Wozniak Signatures

A rare, operational Apple I computer known as the 'Hatfield' machine is returning to the auction block via Bonhams. The sale represents a significant moment for collectors of early computing, as the machine is one of the few surviving examples of Apple's debut hardware.

The computer, listed as No. 48 on the Apple I Registry, is a comprehensive historical package. The sale includes a motherboard signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and a historical letter signed by Steve Jobs. In the letter, Jobs offered the original owner, Fred Hatfield, the opportunity to trade in his Apple I (without memory) and a check for $400 in exchange for an Apple II 4K board. Hatfield declined the offer in 1978, preserving the machine for future generations. The unit previously commanded a price of $671,400 when it sold in 2013.

The Dawn of the Personal Computer

Launched in the mid-1970s, the Apple I was a starkly different product than the polished consumer electronics the company produces today. It was sold primarily to hobbyists as a bare motherboard; users provided their own power supply, keyboard, and monitor to make the system functional. The original retail price for the board was $666.66. While the Apple I served as the foundation for the company's existence, it was the subsequent Apple II that eventually transitioned the brand into a mainstream household name.

A Rare Technological Artifact

The scarcity of these machines drives their immense value in the modern market. Approximately 200 Apple I computers were originally produced, meaning the vast majority of the initial run has been lost to time or hardware failure. The fact that the Hatfield machine remains in working order, coupled with the rare dual-founder provenance of the Wozniak signature and the Jobs letter, elevates it to a premier piece of technological history.

Market Implications and Legacy

This auction highlights the growing trend of treating early computing hardware as fine art rather than obsolete electronics. The Hatfield machine reflects the early entrepreneurial phase of Apple, specifically the direct interaction between the founders and their first customers. As the number of verified, working Apple I units remains extremely low, such artifacts continue to see aggressive bidding from high-net-worth collectors and museums.

What to Watch

Observers will be watching the final hammer price to see if the machine can exceed its 2013 valuation. While the core provenance is confirmed, the final sale price will serve as a benchmark for the current market value of early Silicon Valley relics.