‘Elusive’ Apple iPhone From 2007 Sells For $190,000
A first-edition 2007 Apple iPhone has fetched an astounding $190,372.80 at auction, surpassing initial estimates and earning the title of “Holy Grail” by auctioneer LCG Auctions. The 4GB model, considered an extraordinary collectible, was initially expected to sell for around $50,000 to $100,000. However, a bidding war ensued during the online auction, attracting 28 bids and driving the final sale price to its remarkable amount.
The auction listing highlighted the phone’s rarity and exceptional condition, describing it as a true collector’s item. The 4GB iPhone was discontinued after just two months on the market due to sluggish sales when the 8GB model, offering double the storage for only $100 more, was released.
LCG Auctions emphasized the extreme scarcity and limited production of this first-edition iPhone as the primary reasons for its extraordinary value. The device, which remains sealed in its original packaging and has never been opened, is expected to remain in that condition to preserve its worth.
Earlier this year, another first-generation 2007 iPhone was sold for over $63,000, and a separate unopened first-generation iPhone fetched more than $39,000 in a previous auction by LCG Auctions in October.
The iPhone’s impact on society cannot be overstated, revolutionizing the way billions of people communicate, make payments, take photos, and conduct their daily activities. It reshaped industries, rendering camcorders, MP3 players, and flip phones obsolete while giving rise to countless new innovations.
The late Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, introduced the iPhone at Apple’s annual Macworld expo in 2007, hailing it as a “revolutionary mobile phone” combining an iPod, phone, and internet communicator. The device marked a significant leap forward in mobile web browsing, making real web browsing possible on a phone.
Rare Apple memorabilia and relics associated with Steve Jobs have previously fetched impressive sums at auctions. Notably, in November, a pair of old Birkenstock sandals owned and worn by Jobs set a record for the highest price ever paid for sandals at auction, selling for over $200,000 at Julien’s Auctions.
