A 1976 Apple-1 computer has set a new world auction record after a 28-minute bidding duel between two bidders closed Bonhams' online History of Science, Technology & Computing sale on 14 October 2026. The machine, known as the 'Hatfield' Apple-1 after its original owner Fred Hatfield, sold for $1,148,200 including buyer's premium, well beyond its $500,000 to $800,000 estimate.

According to Bonhams, the result is a record for a commercially sold Apple-1. The same unit last appeared at auction in 2013, when it sold for roughly $686,000 at Breker — a rise of about 67 percent over thirteen years. Apple-1 prototypes have fetched more, most notably the 'Celebration' board that sold for $2.75 million in January 2026, but the 'Hatfield' machine is now the priciest production unit ever sold at auction.

What sets this example apart is its provenance and paperwork. The motherboard carries Steve Wozniak's signature, and the sale included a letter signed by Steve Jobs from 1978. Hatfield had written to Apple complaining about the limited software for his machine; Jobs replied offering an Apple II motherboard in exchange for the Apple-1 plus $400. Hatfield declined — a decision that has since proven enormously profitable.

The machine's paper trail reads like a miniature history of personal computing's collectible era. It was originally priced at $666.60, later sold privately for $40,000 while in need of repairs, and is one of just 74 known surviving Apple-1 computers — among the few that still work. It toured the United States in September 2026 ahead of the sale.

Bonhams' Ian Ehling, the house's director of fine books and manuscripts for North America, said the house was delighted with the result for what he called one of the most significant Apple-1 computers ever to come to market, and an honour to offer Apple's first product during the company's 50th anniversary year. He described the spirited bidding as a testament to the machine's rarity and enduring appeal.