Steve Jobs’ personal belongings have long served as precious artifacts for tech enthusiasts and memorabilia collectors worldwide. As Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary, the renowned auction house RR Auctions has organized a two-part special auction titled “Steve Jobs and the Computer Revolution.” The first part of this auction saw staggering figures and intense competition, with the very first check ever issued by the company selling for a staggering $2.4 million. Now, the second part arrives, featuring unique historical pieces that touch upon Jobs’ early beginnings before he changed the face of the digital world.
Eighth-grade science fair project: Early genius and a stern tone
Among the most prominent items in the current auction is a science project executed by Steve Jobs himself when he was an eighth-grade student, dating back to February 29, 1968, titled “What is a Silicon Controlled Rectifier?” or SCR for short. The project consists of a 32-inch wooden display board featuring two illustrative electronic circuits, a 10-page report, and hand-drawn circuit diagrams, reflecting his early passion for microelectronics at the age of thirteen.
What is remarkable about this project is not just the precision of the electronic connections, but the style in which Jobs wrote the instructions for the fair judges; he left them a sternly worded warning for fear of the circuits burning out if left running for too long. Jobs wrote in his note: “Judges, if you wish to see this work, please connect the second circuit and the oscilloscope and disconnect it, please disconnect it! after use. The device should already be set, but if necessary, please make the appropriate adjustments.” This commanding tone clearly reveals Jobs’ leadership and meticulous personality from a very young age.
The project remained preserved for decades inside the famous Jobs family home in Los Altos, specifically in the property that houses the legendary Apple garage. Ownership of this piece belongs to John Chovanec, Steve Jobs’ stepbrother, as his mother married Paul Jobs (Steve’s father) in 1990, and Steve himself was the best man at the wedding. Despite John’s repeated attempts to hand the project over to Steve after his father’s death, Jobs refused and insisted on leaving it at the house, eventually saying jokingly and bluntly: “Fine, take it, but don’t bother me about it again,” leaving it preserved in excellent condition to this day.
Warm family touches: Apple II computer and his father’s business cards
The auction is not limited to school projects; it includes over 200 items documenting the relationship between Steve Jobs and his father, Paul Jobs. Among the most notable items is a rare Apple II computer with all its original accessories and software, which Steve had personally gifted to his father. The computer’s motherboard bears the Apple Computer logo with a copyright date of 1979, and the number “8051” is written in red marker on the back corner.
The collection also includes a NeXT business card that Steve left for his father when he visited him, on which he wrote in his own handwriting: “Hi Dad — Just stopped by to say hi, Steve.” This card has garnered significant interest, with bids reaching tens of thousands of dollars. Also available is a unique piece consisting of an original framed magazine page from October 1989 featuring a promotional photo of Steve Jobs with a NeXT computer, which his father, Paul Jobs, proudly hung on the living room wall of the family home for many years.
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