
A fully operational Apple 1, Steve Jobs' first ever computer, will be auctioned off in Germany in just a few days.

The rare machine is one of eight working models in the world, and is expected to fetch £262,000 ($317,693).

Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created the personal computer in 1976 - but produced only 150 models to sell to their friends and family.

The machine is one of only eight working Apple 1 computers in the world. It comes with a TV screen display (top left), its original documents (bottom left), a single motherboard (centre), an attachable keyboard (front) and a cassette player (right)

WHY IS IT SO RARE? Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created the personal computer in 1976 - but produced only 150 models to sell to their friends and family. The machine is one of only eight working Apple 1 computers in the world. It also comes complete with its original documents and records of telephone calls between Jobs and Wozniak. Advertisement

The Apple 1 comes complete with original documents and even records of telephone calls with the company founders.

It was designed and built by hand by Wozniak in the Silicon Valley.

He began marketing it along with Jobs through the electronics chain Byte Shop in 1976, after the retailer bought the first 50 units.

They originally went on sale for £545, (US $666.66) as Wozniak liked repeating numbers.

Despite it being the first PC ever that was ready to use with monitor and keyboard access, it was delivered as just the motherboard.

This meant users had to get hold of a power pack, keyboard, monitor, and cassette recorder of their own.

Most early computers used different motherboards for each component, but Wozniak decided to put them onto a single board.

The 1976 personal computer was actually sold as just the motherboard. This meant users had to get hold of a power pack, keyboard, monitor, and cassette recorder of their own

The computer was displayed on a TV screen linked up to the motherboard using a specifically-designed television terminus.

Wozniak chose to use a keyboard instead of the front panel switches featured on other early computers for ease of use.

The attachable cassette recorder was used to store and load software onto the machine.

The screen was slow by today's standards, displaying about 60 individual characters per second.

It also had a 8K memory - tiny by today's standards. For reference 8K, is just enough to save a 1,000 word document.

The rare model also comes with the necessary equipment to make it work, as well as proof of telephone correspondence with Wozniak and Jobs.

The retro machine was built by hand by designed and built by hand by Apple founder Steve Wozniak in the Palo Alto in the Silicon Valley of California

Founder Steve Jobs (left) and Steve Wozniak (right) pictured on the machine's monitor. The personal computer has the serial number 01-0073 and is logged as the fourteenth in the register

THE ICONIC APPLE 1 Apple founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created the personal computer in 1976 and presented it at a Palo Alto computer club, but there were few takers at the time. Paul Terrell, owner of a retail chain called Byte Shop, placed an order for 50 of the machines and sold them for $666.66 (£420) retail - once Mr Wozniak and Mr Jobs agreed to assemble the circuit boards rather than offer them as kits. The pair then produced 150 more and sold them to friends and other vendors. Fewer than 50 original Apple 1s are believed to have survived, with only eight known to be in working condition. The Apple 1 did not have a keyboard or monitor, meaning users had to supply their own. It also had a tiny 8K memory - minuscule by today's standards. Launched in July 1976, it was priced at $666.66 (£420) - reportedly because Mr Wozniak liked repeating digits. Jobs sent them direct to buyers from the garage of his parents' house. It is not known how many were sold but by April 1977 the price had dropped to $475 (£300). The computer helped kick-start a technological revolution that brought affordable computers out of science labs and into people's homes. The Apple II was introduced in April 1977 with an integrated keyboard, sound, a plastic case, and eight internal expansion slots. By the time it was discontinued in October 1977, around 200 Apple 1s had been produced. It is thought that only 30 to 50 of the computers still exist today and there is rarely an opportunity to buy one. Advertisement

It also contains the original card and the original early 6502 microprocessor in a rare white ceramic design.

The card contains the software system Basic, which was only available for Apple 1 at the beginning of 1977.

A spokesperson said: 'The Apple 1 is already a legendary highlight of the great, young history of the computer.

Most early computers used different motherboards for each component, but Steve Wozniak decided to put them onto a single board (pictured)

'This Apple 1 has the very rare, original NTI sign.

'According to the Apple 1 register, compiled by Mike Willegal, there are only 60 sets still in existence, and a mere eight in working order.

'This model has the serial number 01-0073 and is logged as the fourteenth in the register.

'The lot also comes with the original documents from the computer's first and only owner, including the receipt for the motherboard and cassette interface dated 30/11/1967, an original letter from Apple Customer Service refusing an upgrade to Apple-II and a record of telephone conversations with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

The all-in-one computer had a tiny 8K memory, minuscule by today's standards but unheard of in 1976. For reference 8K is just enough to save a 1,000 word document

'The original Apple 1 manual included still shows the primary logo.

'The founders chose Isaac Newton as a symbol in recognition of the binary system he was credited with inventing in the 18th century.'

Apple changed their logo in 1977 to the famous apple with a bite taken out of it.

This was in response to the first advertising campaign run by their client, The Byte Shop, and allowed them to use the slogan: 'Byte into an Apple.'

The computer is being auctioned by Auction Team Breker in Cologne, Germany, on March 20.