Rare Apple Sneakers Fetch Almost $10,000 at Auction [Updated]

[MacRumors]

A pair of rare classic Apple sneakers sold for $9,687.50 at auction this week, reports GQ.

Apple launched a fashion line in 1986, but these kicks were reportedly made as prototypes for Apple employees in the early 90s and never went on sale to the general public, making them an even more sought-after collectible today. Another pair fetched nearly $30,000 at auction in 2017, underlining just how much nostalgia these casual kicks can induce.

Classic Apple hardware and memorabilia has upped in value in recent years, with a couple of recent examples demonstrating the amount of money some people are prepared to pay to acquire anything and everything from Apple's bygone years.

An original Apple Computer Inc. sign created around 1978 with Apple's well-known rainbow logo is set to be auctioned off this week. The sign will be auctioned on March 26, and the starting price is $20,000. Last month, a rare fully functional Apple-1 computer sold for $458,711 at auction.

In 2017, a big auction sell-off of items formerly owned by Steve Jobs took place, including his 1984 Seiko Wristwatch (sold for $42,500), his old Birkenstock sandals ($2,750), and one of his classic black turtlenecks from his time at NeXT ($7,500). Another lot included his NeXT name tag, business card, 10K gold-filled Apple Computers pen, and a personally signed USPS return receipt, all of which sold for $16,250.

Update: A previous version of this article cited an "over $16,000" figure that was quoted in equivalent Australian dollars.

Article Link: Rare Apple Sneakers Fetch Almost $10,000 at Auction [Updated]

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Who would have guessed Adidas ripped off Apple Sneakers with their Continentals?

Or was to vice versa...

(To be fair, they also have a faux 'air' pouch like Nike's)

 

[nylonsteel]

all this hardware and even shoe history is interesting and should be well documented as part of aapl history
but cmon 16-30k for sneakers?
its thier money

 

[Blackstick]

I've seen these before...

 

[IIGS User]

I have a II+ with an 80 Column card and extended memory board.

Needs a power supply, but it looks like it's in excellent shape....

 

[puckhead193]

I wish my old Birkenstock’s were worth that much 😂

 

[GeoStructural]

That is not how I intend to spend 16K... If I had them.

 

[martyjmclean]

I wish my old Birkenstock’s were worth that much 😂

Me too. 😂 I wonder how much Steve's old Birks would be worth lmao.

 

[Quicksilver867]

I'd rock them. Not for 16 large, but I'd rock them. I do find it a little disturbing that someone thought to sell a signed USPS receipt.

 

[BGPL]

Did their fashion line consist of a black turtleneck shirt and a Levi's style blue jeans?

 

[japanime]

Did their fashion line consist of a black turtleneck shirt and a Levi's style blue jeans?

Haha!

Seriously, though, follow the link and check out the fashion catalog. It's mind-blowing!

 

[centauratlas]

I have a II+ with an 80 Column card and extended memory board.

Needs a power supply, but it looks like it's in excellent shape....

Yeah, me too...and the power supply is still good.

How about an Apple tie and an Apple tie pin?

 

[Treq]

I actually own the original Forrest Gump shoes. I want more than $16K for them though.

 

[Waxhead138]

Its kinda funny....on page 12 of that catalogue, there is the true, original, Apple Watch haha.

There's actually an apple Sail Board in there. Damn the 80's were a strange, money burning time...

 

[Stoke]

BMW will sell you a similar "collection", today.

 

[4jasontv]

I don’t always get a kick out these auction posts, but this time I did.

 

[danvdr]

Actually I think it was closer to $10,000 (what a bargain!). Appleinsider is reporting the shoes sold for a little under 10K. The GQ site referenced in the article is in Australia and the US/AUS exchange rate is $1 = $1.65AUS

 

[44267547]

I totally would wear those. I just like the combo of the ‘retro-old school‘ Apple logo with a simplistic looking shoe. Nice conversational piece.

 

[J InTech82]

Dubbed “iHop” but were quickly sued by the popular restaurant chain with the same name and thus, production was put to a permanent halt.

 

[coolfactor]

This is a nugget of Apple history that I didn't know about. They must've been desperate after ousting Jobs.

 

[siddavis]

Hideous
I've got some old smelly shoes for sale!

 

[SigurTom]

Size 9.5 😒

 

[Tech198]

oh cool...Apple snickers.. (...I mean sneakers)

 

[dvoros]

I wonder how much the Alice in Wonderland chess game from Apple would fetch?


A pair of rare classic Apple sneakers sold for $9,687.50 at auction this week, reports GQ.

Apple launched a fashion line in 1986, but these kicks were reportedly made as prototypes for Apple employees in the early 90s and never went on sale to the general public, making them an even more sought-after collectible today. Another pair fetched nearly $30,000 at auction in 2017, underlining just how much nostalgia these casual kicks can induce.

Classic Apple hardware and memorabilia has upped in value in recent years, with a couple of recent examples demonstrating the amount of money some people are prepared to pay to acquire anything and everything from Apple's bygone years.

An original Apple Computer Inc. sign created around 1978 with Apple's well-known rainbow logo is set to be auctioned off this week. The sign will be auctioned on March 26, and the starting price is $20,000. Last month, a rare fully functional Apple-1 computer sold for $458,711 at auction.

In 2017, a big auction sell-off of items formerly owned by Steve Jobs took place, including his 1984 Seiko Wristwatch (sold for $42,500), his old Birkenstock sandals ($2,750), and one of his classic black turtlenecks from his time at NeXT ($7,500). Another lot included his NeXT name tag, business card, 10K gold-filled Apple Computers pen, and a personally signed USPS return receipt, all of which sold for $16,250.

Update: A previous version of this article cited an "over $16,000" figure that was quoted in equivalent Australian dollars.

Article Link: Rare Apple Sneakers Fetch Almost $10,000 at Auction [Updated]

 

[Lepton]

I have a pair of those size 11 completely unused. I guess I should eBay them?