First Apple computer to be auctioned

A still-working model of the Apple l, the first Apple computer made by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, is set to be auctioned by Sotheby's on June 15, 2012 and is expected to earn between $120,000 and $180,000.

The Apple l, the first Apple computer made by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, is seen on display at Sotheby's in New York City. The computer was an integral component to the personal computing revolution. When originally sold, the monitor, keyboard and cassette interface were sold separately. It is believed less than 50 of the original Apple l are still in existence, with only six known to be in working condition.

The Apple I computer was designed and hand-built by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and marketed by Steve Jobs at the birth of Jobs's career as the world's computer design guru. Sotheby's called the computer "an exceptionally rare, working example with original Apple cassette interface, operation manuals and a rare BASIC Users' Manual."

There's no screen, it was built in 1976, and the clunky design does not exactly recall today's iPads, but the first Apple computer is expected to fetch up to $180,000 in New York. Sotheby's in New York is auctioning the rare piece of computer history, which actually still works, on June 15.

"As the first ready-made personal computer, the Apple I signaled a new age in which computing became accessible to the masses," Sotheby's said. The computer first went on sale in July 1976 for $666.66.