A rare working example of the first computer released by Apple – the Apple I – is going on auction at Sotheby’s New York along with the original cassette interface, operating manuals and a rare BASIC Users’ Manual.
The computer, created by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, is famous for kicking off the personal computing revolution by allowing users to “type letters on a keyboard rather than through a panel of lights and switches.” It was initially dismissed by everyone apart from the owner of small chain Byte Shop, who took an order of 50 for $500 each, selling them on for $666.66.
Fewer than 50 of the devices survive and only six are known to be in working condition. Because of this it is expected to fetch up to $180,000 USD when it becomes available on 15 June, 2012.