Iconic Apple-1 'Celebration' Prototype Fetches Record $2.75 Million at Anniversary Auction

In a landmark event for tech history enthusiasts, a rare Apple-1 prototype circuit board, famously dubbed the "Celebration" or "Board #0," was recently auctioned off in Boston. Facilitated by RR Auction, the piece commanded a staggering final price of $2,750,000. This high-profile sale was the cornerstone of the "Steve Jobs and the Computer Revolution: Apple's 50th Anniversary Auction," an event that ultimately generated a total revenue exceeding $8.1 million.

The "Celebration" prototype holds a unique place in computing history as the earliest known fiberglass board produced by the company. As a pre-production specimen, it served as a critical tool for verifying the hardware design before Apple moved into commercial manufacturing. This specific board represents the pivotal moment when Apple evolved from a garage-based experimental project into a legitimate, market-ready enterprise.

Technical nuances set this prototype apart from the standard production models that followed. Unlike the retail units which utilized more affordable components from Texas Instruments, the "Celebration" board features Robinson-Nugent sockets that were integrated via wave soldering. Additionally, the board is equipped with two silver Sprague Atom capacitors, which were non-computer rated and sourced locally for the express purpose of initial testing and development.

The authenticity of this historic artifact was verified by renowned Apple-1 expert Corey Cohen in May 2016, with further documentation added in December 2025. A notable modification to the 74123 timing circuit was discovered on the board, intended to resolve issues with DRAM refreshing. This detail highlights the rigorous debugging process that took place before mass production began. This prototype was crafted even before Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak fulfilled the initial 50-unit order for Paul Terrell’s Byte Shop, emphasizing its status as a non-retail precursor.

Another highlight of the auction was the sale of Apple’s very first financial document: a check dated March 16, 1976. Signed by both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, the Wells Fargo check #1 was issued for $500 to Howard Cantin, the designer responsible for translating Wozniak's schematic into a manufacturable PCB layout. This historic check fetched $2,409,886, with RR Auction Executive Vice President Bobby Livingston describing it as the single most significant financial document in the company's storied history.

The auction featured a diverse collection of 142 artifacts, including items from the personal collection of John Chovanek, Steve Jobs' half-brother. Beyond the record-breaking prototype and check, the event showcased other rare hardware, such as a fully functional Apple Lisa-1 and an original, first-generation iPhone. These sales underscore the enduring legacy of Apple's early years and the immense value collectors place on the origins of the digital age.