In a remarkable convergence of technology history and memorabilia enthusiasts, a $4 check written by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs to Radio Shack in 1976 has become the focal point of a heated auction.
The signed check, drawn against an Apple Computer Company account at a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Los Altos, California, was listed with Boston-based RR Auction, with bidding exceeding $33,000 and five hours remaining at the time of reporting.
Vintage Apple Check Joins Market Surge
This vintage Apple ephemera joins a burgeoning market for Steve Jobs’ signatures and memorabilia. Last year, a $9.18 Apple Computer check from 1976, also signed by Jobs, fetched an impressive $55,000. Another statement from the same year, amounting to $13.86 and payable to Elmar Electronics, sold in March for $37,564.
Notably, Jobs’ signature on a 1973 job application, his earliest known signature, sold for $174,757 in 2018. A signature from three years later, found on the original Apple founding contract signed by Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, set a remarkable record when it was sold by Sotheby’s in December 2011 for an astounding $1,594,500.
The allure of Steve Jobs’ artifacts extends beyond mere signatures. In May 2015, a trio of his business cards, spanning his career at three companies, fetched $10,050 at a high school charity auction in California.
Even a pair of well-worn brown suede Birkenstock sandals worn by Jobs during Apple’s early days commanded an impressive $218,750 at Julien’s Auctions in New York last year, setting a new record for the highest ever paid for a pair of sandals at auction.
The latest check, up for auction, reveals Apple’s first address at 770 Welch Rd, Ste 154, Palo Alto. RR Auction notes that this address was “the location of an answering service and mail drop that they used while still operating out of the famous Jobs family garage.”
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Apple Legacy: Steve Jobs’ Iconic Birkenstock Sandals Break Auction Records
The artifact, coming from a private collector who has owned it since the 1990s, has garnered attention for its historical significance and for highlighting Radio Shack’s role as an “unsung hero” in the personal computing revolution.
RR Auction underscores that Steve Wozniak, Apple’s other co-founder, spent hours at Radio Shack, and the store played a crucial role in the tech innovations of the 20th century.
Describing the check as a “superb” artifact signed by the innovative persona of Steve Jobs, RR Auction’s executive emphasized the historical importance of such items in preserving the legacy of Apple’s pioneering days.
As bids continue to climb, this vintage check is a tangible connection to the roots of one of the most influential companies in modern history.
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