News

First Apple Tradeshow Sign Goes to Auction

Bidding for the sign – which accompanied Steve Jobs at Apple’s first trade event – starts at $50,000.

Published

1 year ago

January 9, 2023

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs standing beneath the first Apple Computer trade sign, circa 1976. Courtesy of Alexander Historical Auctions

A piece of Apple’s storied history will go on sale later this month when the tech giant’s first tradeshow sign hits the auction block.

The sign once accompanied Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at the company’s first trade event and then was displayed outside its Cupertino, CA headquarters for several years, according to a press release from Alexander Historical Auctions.

Once the company’s success was assured and a new sign was delivered, the sign was salvaged by an Apple facilities engineer. It has been on display at the All About Apple Museum in Savona, Italy since 2008.

The sign was first used by founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak at various local tradeshows, and then was displayed outside the fledgling company’s Cupertino, CA offices for several years to identify its premises. Courtesy of Alexander Historical Auctions

The auctioneer describes the sign as almost 9 ft. long and made of opaque white plexiglass with applied lettering and the now-famous, multi-colored “apple” logo. It is encased in its original weathered wood frame. Bidding for the sign will start at $50,000.

Alexander Historical Auctions is also staging the sale of another Apple relic – the battered toolbox used by co-founder Steve Wozniak, who created the Apple I and Apple II computers in the mid-1970s.

“The dented, soiled blue box has a single tray within, and the exterior bears years of scratches, dings and grime. A very old yellow Dymo label bearing Wozniak’s name is applied to the top,” the release says. Bidding for the toolbox will start at $10,000.

The auctions for the sign and the toolbox are scheduled for Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. EST in Chesapeake City, MD. Bidding will be available live, by telephone and at the auction house’s website.

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