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Christie's first digital art auction leans on blockchain and other buzzwords
NFT uses blockchain tech to verify ownership of digital collectibles, and Christie's will auction this one off next week. Beeple's 'Everydays' collection includes pictures drawn each day from 2007 through 2021.
AI-generated painting sells for $432,000 at auction
A painting created by artificial intelligence sold for $432,000 at the Christie's Prints and Multiples art auction in New York. The piece, called "Portrait of Edmond Belamy," is the first artwork made entirely by AI to go up for sale at a major art auction. It was expected to fetch between $7,000 and $10,000, making the $432,000 haul quite the shocker.
Christie’s will auction AI-generated art for the first time
In October, Christie's Prints and Multiples art auction will include a portrait of a man named Edmond De Belamy, one of 11 portraits of the Belamy family. The man is depicted in a dark coat with a white collar, his facial features indistinct. Blank areas around the work's edges suggest it was unfinished. To many, the work may appear right at home at an auction house such as Christie's. But Edmond isn't real. In fact the entire Belamy family is a work of fiction. And the portraits weren't painted by a human, but by AI.
Isaac Newton text is the most expensive science book sold
Science texts aren't normally top earners at auctions, but Christie's just proved that there are major exceptions to this rule. The auction house has sold a first edition of Isaac Newton's 1687 masterpiece, Principia Mathematica, for just over $3.7 million -- the most expensive science book sold to date. It was originally estimated to sell for no more than $1.5 million, but its rarity likely helped drive the price up. This is a rare continental Europe edition, with only 80 copies published versus the 400 for Britain.
Apple I sells for "only" $365,000 at auction
With the original Apple computers - AKA Apple I or Apple-1 - being as scarce as the proverbial hens teeth, prices for the units hand-built by Steve Wozniak and sold by Steve Jobs have been soaring into the stratosphere. As an example, in October of 2014, the Henry Ford Museum purchased an Apple I for US$905,000. Well, yesterday a working Apple I was sold by Christies auction house for a paltry $365,000. Out of the 200 or so Apple I units produced in the early days of Apple, only 63 are known to exist and the majority of those are no longer in working order. We're not sure why the device sold yesterday - which was apparently in mint condition - was such a relative bargain. That selling price represents an increase in value of more than 547 times the original Apple I retail price, which was $666.66. That's not a bad return on investment if the computer was sold by its original owner, although he/she would have done much better to invest that money in Apple stock back when the company went public in 1980.
Original Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne auctioning off early Apple documents
The story of Ronald Wayne almost sounds like the plot of a screwball comedy. One of the three original co-founders of Apple, Wayne sold his 10 percent stake in the company for $800 early in the company's life, and then forfeited any future claims towards profits for $1,500 later on. Despite these missteps, Wayne is incredibly important in Apple's early history, writing the manual for the Apple I and drawing the company's first logo. Now Wayne is selling off early documents from his time at Apple, including blueprints, proofs for the original Apple I manual, and drawings. Here's the lot description from Christie's. APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY (founded 1 April 1976). The personal archive of Apple Co-Founder Ronald Wayne.COMPRISING: Ronald WAYNE (b. 1934). Proof sheets for the Apple-1 Operation Manual. Palo Alto: Apple Computer Company, [1976]. Eleven sheets, printed on rectos only. Comprising front cover, text and warranty. A COMPLETE SET OF PROOFS collected by Ronald Wayne, with the exception of the folding schematic that would have been printed by a different process. [With:] Ronald WAYNE. Personal archive of preparatory drawings and blueprints for the casing of the Apple II Computer. [Palo Alto, ca 1976-77]. Comprising: 8 original pencil sketches on paper, 11 x 16 in. (6) and 17 x 22 in. (2); and 17 blueprints, 22 x 34 in. (5), 16 1/2 x 22 in. (2) and 8 1/2 x 11 in. (10). Wayne's drawings and blueprints show the enclosure, panels, door, hinges, pivots etc. The final version of the Apple II was introduced on 16 April 1977 at the West Coast Computer Faire. Although the final version contained certain recognizable elements of Wayne's early renderings, such as the gently sloping front panel holding the keyboard, the result was quite different. This series of renderings illustrates the rigorous industrial design process employed in Apple's formative years: a process that can certainly still be seen in the company's adventurous, innovative leap forwards in its combination of applied science and design. [With:] Apple-II. Advance Order Information. Palo Alto, 1977. Bifolium (275 x 428 mm; 10 3/4 x 16 3/4 in.). THE EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE ORDER FORM FOR THE APPLE II. As most examples would have been filled out and returned to the company, an original example, unmarked, is a very rare ephemeral piece of Apple history. The lot is expected to sell for $30,000 - $50,000. If you'd like to place a bid, head over to Christie's.
Samsung made a 78-inch curved TV and decided to cover the back in gold
Do you want to see the TV or do you want to see the gold?
A 56-year-old prototype of the first microchip going up for auction
Without the integrated circuit (IC) basically none of the things you take for granted in your life would exist. And it's not just your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Your TV, microwave even your car is loaded with microchips. Auction house Christie's will be selling-off an early prototype of the integrated circuit built by Jack Kilby in 1958 while he was working at Texas Instruments. That was the year that he, along with Robert Noyce, first demonstrated a functioning IC which combines multiple electronic functions on a single slab. Most often that is silicon, but in the late 50s Kilby turned to germanium. Now you have a chance own a piece of computer history, which Kilby and his team eventually one a Nobel Prize for in 2000. Of course, you'll need to come up with the estimated $1 to $2 million the chip is expected to fetch at Thursday's auction.
Rare Apple I sold for $387,750 in online Christie's auction
Late last month, Christie's kicked off an auction for a rare Apple I computer with its original manual, schematics and a photo of the two Steves. The online-only auction ended today at a lower-than-expected US$387,750, according to a press release from Christie's. Pre-auction estimates suggested the piece of Apple history could sell for as much as $500,000, as previous auctions for Apple I computers fetched up to $671,400. The Apple I was part of a larger group that included a total of 10 iconic items from Apple's history. Besides the Apple I, the First Bytes collection also included an Apple Lisa, a prototype Apple IIGS and a 20th Anniversary Macintosh limited to 12,000 units. All the auctions ended today, and we will update the prices for these vintage Apple items when they become available. [Via CNBC] Show full PR text APPLE-1 SELLS FOR $387,750 FIRST BYTES: ICONIC TECHNOLOGY FROM THE TWENTIETH CENTURY ONLINE-ONLY AUCTION FEATURING VINTAGE TECH PRODUCTS INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL APPLE COMPUTER, APPLE-1 New York/London/Paris/Hong Kong – An original Apple computer, now known as the Apple-1, sold for $387,750 at Christie's auction of vintage tech products, making it the highest priced item to ever be sold through Christie's new online-only platform. The Apple-1, one of the first 25 Apple-1's ever assembled, inscribed with the serial number 01-0025 in black ink was designed and hand-built in 1976 by Steve Wozniak, who later signed his work "Woz." Christie's saw traffic to the First Bytes online-only sale page from 96 countries with 77% of the viewers new to Christie's.
Christie's launches First Bytes auction featuring rare pieces of Apple history
If you've got access to hundreds of thousands of dollars and a knack for collecting Apple artifacts you're in luck. World famous auction house Christie's has launched an online-only listing of ten lots featuring rare and "iconic technology from the twentieth century," the majority of it highlighting Apple's cutting edge history. The listing states 1976, Palo Alto: A young Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs pore over Wozniak's circuit designs in Jobs' parents' garage, hand-assembling a modest device that would help catalyze the Information Revolution: the "Apple I," their fledgling company's first computer. As part of this exclusive online auction of vintage Apple products, June 24 through July 9, Christie's is offering one of the first 25 Apple I's assembled-inscribed with the serial number 01-0025 in black ink, and signed "Woz." A 1983 Apple "Lisa" (named after Jobs' daughter), an assortment of early prototypes, software and other must-haves for the retro tech lover complete this fascinating look back at the future. Included among the lots is one of the first 25 Apple 1 computers the company made, signed by Steve Wozniak himself. Other items up for auction include the Apple Lisa, a prototype Apple IIGS, and a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh limited to 12,000 units. The auction runs through July 9th. In the meantime take a look through some remarkable piece of Apple history. You can find the listings here.
Apple I to hit Christie's auction block starting at $300,000
If you weren't able to scrounge up enough coin to snap up the last few Apple I computers to be auctioned off, another chance to score one -- and empty your bank account -- is headed your way. Starting today, Christie's will be auctioning a functional Apple I until July 9, with a starting bid of $300,000. If last month's record-breaking $671,400 sale of a similar rig is anything to go by, this machine may rake in more than its estimated $500,000 value. The owner of the Apple I, who picked it up over three decades ago in a swap, modified it with a keyboard, monitor and a tape deck for storage - in other words, just the motherboard is original. Those more interested in window shopping can ogle the classic hardware at Mountain View's Computer History Museum beginning tomorrow. [Image credit: Christie's Auction House]
Apple 1 fails to sell at auction
Christie's auctioned off an original Apple 1 motherboard this week and the piece of Apple history failed to garner enough bids to reach its reserve price. According to an ABC News report, the Apple 1 had a top bid of £32,000 (US$51,155), which is well below the £50,000 ($80,000) reserve. The computer will now go back to the consignor, who will decide what to do with the machine. According to the auction description, the Apple I came from the estate of former Apple employee Joe Copson. It is numbered 01-0022 and is believed to be the 22nd model to be manufactured by Apple in 1976. The motherboard was originally sold without a case, keyboard or monitor, but the model featured in the auction included a third-party case designed to look like an Apple II. Approximately 200 models of the Apple 1 were sold between 1976 and 1977, and only 50 of those units are still in circulation. [Via The Mac Observer]
Rare Apple I to be sold at auction
Another piece of Apple history is headed to the auction block later this year. According to a report in Computer World, an original Apple I computer will be offered at a Christie's auction that will be held October 9 in London, England. The Apple I belonged to former Apple employee Joe Copson, who reportedly tried to sell the unit on eBay last year for US$179,000. This Apple I is housed in a plastic casing that loosely resembles the Apple II and is missing some DRAM, said Mike Willegal, an expert on the Apple I computer, who talked to Computer World. Unlike the most recent auction for a working Apple I, which sold for $375,000, this Apple I is non-functional and may only fetch $125,000. It is one of only 50 that are still in existence.
$211,000 Apple-1 up and running, wants to know what this 'cloud' thing is all about
Wondering whatever became of the Apple-1 that sold at Christie's for $211,535? Turns out the extremely limited edition system wasn't destined for airtight museum displays -- not for the time being, at least. Auction winner / entrepreneur Mark Bogle brought the Wozniak-built system on stage with him at the Polytechnic University of Turin in Italy this week, and discussed its place in computing history with a group of professors before proceeding to fire it up. According to Italian Apple blog Macity, the process went "smoothly," and with the help of an oscilloscope and a MacBook Pro, the system was fed into an NTSC monitor, displaying the words "Hello Polito" -- a friendly message for the Polytechnic crowd. It's not Doom, but we'll take it. [Thanks, Settimio]
Apple I sells for $210K at Christie's auction in London
One of the first Apple computers ever made, the Apple I, has been sold at a Christie's auction in London on Tuesday. The Apple I, one of only 200 of its kind to have been made, was won by the Italian businessman and private collector Marco Boglione for $210,000. The Apple I was released in 1976 and originally sold for $666.66. The computer came with its original packaging, a signed sales letter from co-founder and current CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, as well as an autographed letter by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who was present at the auction. Wozniak said of the Apple I, "It really was an important step, [even though] I didn't feel that way when I designed it." Wozniak added, "I'm very delighted for the gentleman who purchased it." According to Christies, the Apple I was the first personal computer to come with an assembled motherboard that worked out of the box. However, users still needed to provide their own keyboard, display and power supply. However, according to the BBC, the Apple I's processor works 1,000 times slower than the processor found in today's iPad. Francesco Boglione, the brother of the winning bidder (who was present at the auction), said that the Apple I would likely be restored to working order before joining a collection of other Apple computers owned by Marco Boglione who "...loves computers." A detailed picture of the Apple I can be viewed on Christies website here. [via AppleInsider]
Apple-1 computer auctioned off for over $211,000; winner in the garage building a case for it
So, that Apple-1 we saw a while back was auctioned off today, for a winning bid of £133,250, or roughly $211,535 -- not bad, considering that the original sale price was (believe it or not!) $666.66. According to the Wall Street Journal, a spokesman for Christie's in London called it "a record for a personal computer sold at auction." Besides the machine itself (with its 8-bit 6502 microprocessor and 8K RAM), the lot included a letter from a certain "Steven Jobs" with his parents' return address. If you happen to be the person who won the auction, we know a guy with a copy of Apple-1 BASIC.
Apple-1 computer on the auction block at Christie's with a starting price of $241,000
This is certainly something you don't see every day. An original Apple-1 computer -- of which only 200 were made -- will go on sale in an auction at Christie's on November 23rd. The computer, which originally cost $666.66 to purchase new, was launched in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and models were sold out of Jobs' own house (or you know... his parents house). The sale includes everything that was included with the original Apple-1 purchase: an Apple-1 motherboard (number 82), printed circuit board, three capacitors, a heatsink, cassette board connector, 8kb of RAM, and a keyboard interface. Along with the other printed material that comes with the computer is a typed letter from Steve Jobs which appears to be in answer to the original owner's questions. The letter simply says "yep." The Apple-1 is expected to fetch somewhere in the realm of $200,000 to $250,000 at auction.
Apple-1 computer going on auction at Christie's in London
One of the original Apple-1 computers -- that's right, the wood-encased PCs that Steves Jobs and Wozniak built in the garage all those years ago -- is going up for auction at Christie's in London. There were only about 200 sold back in 1976 (for $666.66, of course) and only a few still left around today, but this one's going up on the auction block. And it's got all of the original materials included, apparently, including the original manual (with that old Apple Computer Co. logo) and a letter from Steve Jobs himself, answering questions about which keyboards and monitors to use with the PC. The sale will go down on November 23rd, and the price is expected to reach £150,000, or about $242k. Honestly, it'd be nice to see this either bought up by Apple themselves (though Jobs must still have even more interesting treasures from back in those days), or by a museum somewhere. But even if it goes to a private collector, whoever picks it up will likely understand how important it is anyway, and they can make sure to preserve this piece of Apple history. [via MDN]
Christie DLP projector to be used to display Disney's "Cars"
File this under "man, I wish I could see this" category. A group is going to premier Disney's Cars at Lowe's Motor Speedway on four 125-foot screen with the proceeds going to Speedway Children's Charities and Association of Hole in the Wall Gang Camps. Christie, ultra-high end provider of projectors, is donating the use of two CP200 3-chip DLP projectors. These units are deemed the "brightest in the industry" and has some amazing specs. Like 35 trillion colors, 45-bit color processing, 2048 x 1080 resolution and light output that meets SMPTE standard 14fL. The screens were made just for this event on the tracks of the speedway and is going to be matched with a state-of-the-art sound system. There are going to be four screens lit up that night and Christie is going to power two of 'em. This is going to be the first multi-screen digital cinema premiere ever staged and we imagine it is going to be spectacular.The event is going to be held on May 26 and we are hoping that some of our readers will be in attendance. Snap us some pics if you would and let us know how it was.
