Auctioneers are ready to capitalize on the 50th anniversary of Apple, which occurs April 1.
RR Auction launched its Apple auction Tuesday, and bidding closes Jan. 29. It includes the first check Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak cut — a $500 check to Howard Cantin, who designed the circuit board for the Apple I. The pre-sale estimate is at least $500,000.
Christies, as part of its 250th anniversary of America sale (concluding Jan. 23), is selling the original Apple Computer Company foundation document signed by the three Apple founders, Jobs, Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
Wayne sold that document for $500. In 2011, it was consigned to Sotheby's, which estimated it was worth $100,000 to $150,000. It ended up selling for $1.6 million.
RR, which has sold many of the early checks, is also offering a check paid to Elmer Baum, the first person who lent money to the company.
RR's auction includes many of Jobs' personal effects, including the case that was made for his Apple I, his bedroom desk that was in the company's famed garage and the manual for the Volkswagen he sold in order to help fund the company.
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Darren Rovell is the founder of cllct and one of the country's leading reporters on the collectibles market. He previously worked for ESPN, CNBC and The Action Network.