A collection of rare Apple items, including the second check the company ever wrote, signed by co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, is heading to the auction block, following the record-breaking sale of a sealed 4GB original iPhone, which sold for almost $200,000. This new auction, organized by RR Auction, offers over 50 unique items, affording enthusiasts an intimate look into the nascent days of one of the world’s most iconic tech companies.

The collection includes the second check ever written by Apple Inc.

The second check that Apple issued, bearing the signatures of both Jobs and Wozniak, has the potential to fetch over $50,000. Dated March 19, 1976, the check was written for $116.97 to Ramlor, Inc., a Palo Alto-area manufacturer of printed circuit boards. This document harks back to the time when Apple was crafting its debut product, the Apple-1, and predates the company’s official inception by about two weeks.

Apple

Notably, this check is labeled “No. 2,” and was written around the time Apple was still operating out of the Jobs family garage. The check also bears significance as it predates the official formation of Apple Computer, Inc., which didn’t happen until April 1, 1976. On that date, Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne formalized the partnership, distributing 45% of the company each to Jobs and Wozniak, with the remaining 10% going to Wayne.

Given its date and payee, the check likely covered costs associated with the circuit boards for the initial batch of Apple-1 Computers. These units were initially envisioned as kit-based products, for hobbyists to assemble. However, the project’s scope widened after a meeting with Paul Terrell, owner of The Byte Shop in Mountain View, one of the first-ever personal computer stores. This latest auction offers an extra rare opportunity to acquire extremely rare pieces of Apple’s early history, signifying the tech giant’s humble beginnings before it transformed into a worldwide phenomenon.

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