TL;DR
An online auction run by RR Auction is offering personal items owned by Steve Jobs, including his childhood garage desk, high‑school bow ties and early Apple artifacts. Lots range from low‑hundred dollar starting bids to six‑figure estimates; the sale closes on January 30.
What happened
RR Auction has opened an online sale featuring a wide array of items that once belonged to Steve Jobs and other Apple‑related artifacts. Highlighted lots include the desk from the garage where early Apple machines were assembled, high‑school bow ties owned by Jobs, posters and small components tied to early Apple production. The catalogue lists an earliest‑known Apple 1 prototype with a $50,000 starting bid and an estimate above $500,000, and what is described as the first check issued by Apple with a $25,000 start and a similar estimate. Some lots carry modest entry prices — for example, an Apple 1 Byte Shop wooden case with a $500 starting bid and an estimated $5,000 value, and posters starting around $200. Wired says many personal items were consigned by John Chovanec, Jobs’s stepbrother. The auction is scheduled to end on January 30.
Why it matters
- Objects tie directly to Apple’s origin story and could deepen public access to primary artifacts.
- Auction results will shape market valuations for early Apple hardware and personal Jobs items.
- Sale raises questions about provenance and stewardship of historically significant tech memorabilia.
- Wide range of price points makes the auction accessible to diverse collectors and institutions.
Key facts
- Auction operator: RR Auction.
- Auction end date: January 30.
- Notable lot: earliest‑known Apple 1 prototype — $50,000 starting bid; estimate above $500,000.
- Notable lot: the first check issued by Apple — $25,000 starting bid; similar estimate.
- Steve Jobs’s garage desk appears in the catalogue with a $5,000 starting bid and an estimated $25,000+ value.
- An Apple 1 Byte Shop wooden case owned by Jobs has a $500 starting bid and a $5,000 estimate.
- Posters and other personal ephemera owned by Jobs have starting bids as low as about $200.
- Small components such as an Apple 1 heatsink and a ribbon cable are included, their value driven by Jobs’s ownership.
- Wired reports that many of the items were consigned by John Chovanec, Jobs’s stepbrother.
- A $500 check to circuit‑board designer Howard Cantin is listed; Cantin said Jobs offered him a choice of a check or Apple stock, and he took the check.
What to watch next
- Final hammer prices for marquee lots such as the Apple 1 prototype and the first Apple check.
- Whether institutions or prominent collectors acquire key items (not confirmed in the source).
- Any additional provenance documentation RR Auction publishes for high‑value pieces.
Quick glossary
- RR Auction: An auction house that conducts online and live sales for historical documents, memorabilia and collectibles.
- Apple 1: An early single‑board personal computer developed by Apple’s founders in the mid‑1970s; original units are rare and collectable.
- Provenance: The documented history of ownership for an item, used to establish authenticity and legal title.
- Starting bid: The minimum price at which an auction lot will begin receiving offers.
- Estimate: A price range provided by an auction house reflecting its expectation of a lot’s likely sale value.
Reader FAQ
Who consigned the Steve Jobs personal items?
Wired reports that many of the personal possessions on offer were consigned by John Chovanec, Jobs’s stepbrother.
When does the auction close?
The online sale ends on January 30.
Are there high‑value items in the sale?
Yes; examples include an Apple 1 prototype with a $50,000 start and estimates above $500,000, and the first Apple check starting at $25,000.
How can I place a bid?
Not confirmed in the source.
Are the auction estimates reliable?
The reporting notes the author’s view that some estimates seem low, but broader reliability is not confirmed in the source.
I think Apple should take this radical approach to the new Siri Ben Lovejoy Jan 5 2026 AAPL COMPANY STEVE JOBS Steve Jobs memorabilia auction includes his desk, bow ties,…
Sources
- Steve Jobs memorabilia auction includes his desk, bow ties, and much more
- Steve Jobs-signed Apple Computer check sells for …
- Steve Jobs and the Apple Revolution | All Auction Items | 714
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