A $175 check signed by Steve Jobs sold at $100K
What's the story
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was always reluctant to give autographs. He rather preferred it on checks. And thus his autographs have been valuable. More so now.
When Jobs was still alive, he had signed a check for $175 (Rs. 14,000), and the company auctioned it off.
The check has now been auctioned for a whopping $106,985 (nearly Rs. 88 lakh).
Check signed in 1976
Check was signed in 1976
As per the auction listing, the check was signed in the same year, Apple was founded, which is 1976.
According to the auction listing, the check was signed on behalf of a now-defunct Palo Alto management consulting firm Crampton, Remke and Miller, which had many high-tech companies in Northern California as its customers - including Atari and Xerox.
Old address
The check had Apple's first address
Apple co-founders Jobs and Steve Wozniak initially were working out of a mailbox and answering service garage.
Interestingly this check had this address on it.
It read, 770 Welch Rd., Ste. 154, Palo Alto.
This made the check a very unique and significant item in the auction.
Expected cost
The offer already surpassed the expected value
The check's initial estimate by the auction firm, RR Auction, was $25,000, more than 142 times its original worth.
It became $29,995 on May 9 - which was more than 171 times the check's initial value. However, the check finally was auctioned off at $106,985.
This is another indicator of how people are always interested in Apple's products.
Quote
This kind of checks adds to the authenticity
RR Auction VP Bobby Livingston told reporters that early checks like this are worthy as "they not only tell Apple's founding story - they are signed with perfect examples of Steve Jobs's autograph." It also "allay collectors' concerns about the authenticity of Steve Jobs's signature."
Not the first time
In 2022 a similar check was auctioned
This isn't the first check signed by Jobs and Wozniak that was auctioned. In 2022, a similar check was sold for $164K.
The check dated July 15, 1976, was payable to Kierulff Electronics for $3430 (approximately over Rs. 2.8 lakh).
This was three months after the Apple founders signed the company's original partnership agreement.