arustocracy

10/02/2026

Apple Computer historical items continue to gain attention among collectors and museums. Some important pieces sell in the six-figure and higher range, with an original Apple 1 going for over 1 million USD.

This month, Bonham's History of Science, Technology & Computing Auction, with bidding October 4 through October 14, offers some very cool items that illustrate how interest in these collectible pieces has expanded. In addition to a fine Apple 1, Bonham's is offering an Apple Lisa, an early Apple Macintosh Portable prototype, and an important internal Apple Newton MessagePad engineering group development notebook. (Full disclosure: we are the consignors of the notebook.)

Though not Apple-related, it's interesting to see a 30th anniversary 'White OC' edition ASUS ROG NVIDIA Astral GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card signed by NVIDIA co-founder, president & CEO, Jensen Huang, and an inscribed copy of Joseph Weizenbaum's important 1976 treatise "Computer Power and Human Reason" on the dangers of AI and computer decision making, signaling the rise in interest in AI historical items.

https://www.bonhams.com/auction/31890/history-of-science-technology-and-computing/

08/11/2026

Bronze WWII Pearl Harbor War Bonds Bell. Made from metal taken from retired warships and given in recognition of large purchases of bonds to support the U.S. war effort in the Pacific.

Authentic WWII Bronze War Bond Bell. Cast with an image of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the legend "Pearl Harbor 7 Dec, 1941.". With the original "clapper.". For display or hang it up and use it.

08/08/2026

The Apple Lisa, Apple's first computer with a GUI and a mouse, and the first to start looking like the iconic Macintosh, is moving into the "if you have to ask you can't afford it" category. Bonham's will be offering one this October in its History of Science, Technology & Computing auction. Estimate: USD 50,000 to 70,000.

There are a couple on eBay priced at up to USD 90,000, with one at 12,000, though it's probably misidentified.

Apple's first computer, the Apple 1, catapulted into auction record territory, with sales typically in the USD 300,000 range but units with the right provenance fetching over 1 million and the Apple-1 ‘Prototype Board #0’ selling in 2026 for 2,750,000 at auction, 5x the anticipated value.

Apple Lisa 1 Microcomputer Model A6SB100 with built-in monitor and 2 5.25 in. "Twiggy" floppy drives, Apple ProFile 5MB Drive Model A9M0005, Apple Keyboard Model A6MB101, Apple Mouse Model A9M0050. Apple Computer, Inc.: Cupertino, CA, 1983. Microcomputer 14 in (35.6 cm) high x 18.5 in (47 cm) wide x...

08/04/2026

1980s Aluminum Bank Sign Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation Your Savings Insured $100,000

08/01/2026

We just picked up this awesome, 1988 original Neo-Japonist pen & ink drawing that captures the convergence of traditional Japanese art and the emerging Apple Macintosh Silicon Valley aesthetic.
https://ebay.io/m/bPnk5G

07/27/2026

Also Sprach Zarathustra Friedrich Nietzsche Hardcover Germany 1930 Printing

Alfred Kroner Verlag, Leipzig Germany. In German. With a leaflet and a flyer advertising other books.

07/27/2026

1950s English Pub Bat & Ball Cricket Tapestry Wall Hanging Sign Hambledon Hants
https://www.ebay.com/itm/277740102175

07/10/2026

https://www.ebay.com/itm/278079645613
8 Quart Roseville Ohio FP USA Friendship Pottery Stoneware Bowl Blue Stripe

07/10/2026

1884 McLoughlin Brothers Linen Little ABC Book Antique Victorian Children's Book
https://www.ebay.com/itm/278100271931

06/16/2026

A seller on a popular online site offers this book for more than $100, and describes it as original Vietnam era. It appears to be a reprint. Copies are readily available for closer to $20. This copy is in a plastic sleeve marked “07-01-02” (July 1, 2002.)

I’m sure the seller did not mean to deceive buyers. But always look carefully at a collectible or antique item for signs it is what it claims to be.

Upload the image to Google Image Search to see similar examples. Ask AI for its assessment. People will tell you to have an item looked at by a professional, or even to take it to a museum for an appraisal. This strategy is rarely practical or effective.