Steve Jobs signed Apple’s first check could fetch over a whopping $500,000
In January 2026, RR Auction is running a special sale called “Steve Jobs & the Computer Revolution: The Apple 50th Anniversary Auction.” The top item is Check No. 1 from Apple’s first bank account. This Wells Fargo check, dated March 16, 1976, is for $500 and made out to Howard Cantin. Cantin was the designer of the printed circuit board for the Apple-1, Apple’s very first product. Steve Jobs signed it as “steven jobs,” and Steve Wozniak countersigned it.
The check comes from a temporary slip used when they opened the account, before official printed checks arrived. It is marked “No. 1” and graded PSA Mint 9, meaning it is in excellent condition. This document was written 16 days before Apple officially became a company on April 1, 1976, when Jobs, Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne signed the partnership agreement. It shows the exact moment the idea turned into a real business. Jobs and Wozniak needed both signatures for big spends, and this payment helped secure the design work that led to the Apple-1 computers built in Jobs’ garage.
What is the current status of the bid?
The current bid has climbed past $260,000 with multiple bids already placed. The auction house estimates it could reach $500,000 or more when the sale ends on January 29, 2026. The high value comes from several factors. This is the first check ever issued by Apple, making it one of the earliest financial records. Very few items signed by both founders from this early time still exist. The 50th anniversary has increased interest in Apple’s origins. The check stands as a symbol of the risk and hard work that started a company now worth trillions. It reminds people how a small $500 payment helped launch personal computers for everyone.
What else is there in the auction?
The auction includes other important pieces of Apple history. There is a rare prototype board for the Apple-1, known as the “Celebration” board, considered one of the earliest fiberglass versions used to test the design before full production. It has been called “board number zero” by experts. Other lots feature personal items from Steve Jobs’ early life, including things from his childhood given by his stepbrother. There are also vintage Apple computers like a working Apple Lisa-1 and early iPhones.
Apple is all set to ring in 50 years in the industry, and the brand has seen its fair share of ups and downs through this entire duration, and seeing Apple offering some legacy memorabilia to collectors or enthusiasts, is a bit surprising, considering how secretive and protective the company is known to be. That said, it would be something of a dream for Steve Jobs fans to try and own a piece of his legacy, and to make things even more interesting, the rumour mill is also ablaze with reports of Apple preparing to unleash a foldable phone as well as some design changes to the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Apple has been lagging off late, when it comes to bringing out products that really personify innovation, but we could see this change this year. Stay tuned to Tattwa Tech for more updates.
