The world of auctions has always fascinated me. In a way, this is understandable. Not everyone can say that they own the jacket of Steve Jobs, one of the first Macs… But the object we are going to see today exceeded expectations even from the auction house itself.
And if there is something that surprises Apple, beyond its products, it is its ability to maintain its price over time. And I don’t mean that iPhone 16 you buy today you can very well sell it in a few years (that too). But to objects that were worth nothing at the time and are worth thousands of dollars today.
A plastic foot and a glass plate that illuminates
Apple has always been a company with an artistic style and an innovative vision. And the plate put up for auction last September reflects well the apple of the 80s. This product was part of Macintosh promotional merchandising. It looks like a humble plastic and glass base. And, in fact, it is. Although it has a cord that can be plugged in and produce light. The result is something quite retro.
On the glass plate itself we can see the so-called “Picasso Dealer”. A striking design that in 1984 was sent to Apple resellers so they could show off revolutionary new Macintosh computers. With its iconic stylized apple and colorful graphics, the card perfectly captures the creative, friendly and alternative spirit of the Macintosh.
But what no one could have imagined is that, decades later, this simple but iconic piece would end up generating so much interest among the most die-hard Apple collectors. Imagine, it was recently sold at auction for no less than $37,800! That’s what it is multiply the original value almost by 40. In fact, Christie’s auction house estimated its maximum value at $2,000. Even they didn’t expect this much fury from him.
The most curious thing is that they are sold on eBay panels for around $1,000. Directly and without auction. Maybe the condition is not the same, although you can judge for yourself that even the light is working.
The designer behind this card and the elements of the Mac that endure today
Behind this painting lies a fascinating story: Susan Kare, the artist who created the iconic visual identity of the Macintosh. She was the mastermind behind these signs. Susan was already an artist, but had no prior experience in technology or computing before joining Apple in 1982. However, her freshness and style allowed her to bring the Macintosh to life through her graphics and typography.
It was Susan Kare who designed the iconic symbols that became the hallmark of the Macintosh: the smiling face of the Finder, the trash icon and the legendary Command key. Elements that persist today after 40 years.
Who was going to say it? This simple but iconic promotional piece, designed to encourage entry into a storehas become a cult icon. It’s even worth more than a Mac itself! An authentic relic from the early days of the Mac that will now be in the home of one literally very lucky collector.
In Applesfera | This is a highly sought-after piece of Apple history that almost no one owns and which you can take home if you bid on eBay.
In Applesfera | You spend over $40,000 on an original iPhone and when you open it you find out how much we lost along the way
