Auctioner To Offer An Original Apple-1 Computer This Month

Christie's, a London auction house known for multimillion dollar paintings, on Nov. 23 will auction off an original Apple-1 computer at a starting bid of $161,000.

The machine also includes a letter to the owner signed "Respectfully, Steve Jobs," according to exhibits from Christie's Website.

In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak shipped an original Apple-1 machine from Jobs' parents' basement home. The machine sold to Frank Anderson in Montana for $666.66, which comes out to $2,564 when adjusted for inflation.

"Introduced in July 1976, the Apple-1 was sold without a casing, power supply, keyboard or monitor," according to a press release from Christie's. "Because the motherboard was completely pre-assembled, it represented a major step forward in comparison with the competing self-assembly kits of the day."

Christie's refers to the machine as a "historical relic." Wozniak and Jobs built about 200 copies of the Apple-1 before introducing the Apple-2 in 1977. In addition to being the first Apple machine, the original was also the first personal computer sold with a fully-assembled motherboard.

The first personal computers were usually sold as self-assembly kits. The Apple-1 is no different, as Christie's says all of the components are still in their original box, along with all of the original packaging, invoice, pricing information and instructions.

Christie's expects the original Apple-1 to go for up to $242,400.