A dinosaur, Steve Jobs' first Apple computer and a rock from Mars are going for sale
Ceratosaurus skeleton
, an original
Apple-1 computer
, and space memorabilia from astronaut Buzz Aldrin's personal collection. The event brings together highlights from the categories of Natural History, History of Science & Technology, and Space Exploration.
Rare Ceratosaurus and Martian meteorite among natural history highlights
The key item in the Natural History category is a 10-foot-8-inch-long Ceratosaurus skeleton with a nearly complete skull. Excavated in Wyoming in 1996, the fossil is believed to be a juvenile and dates back 150 million years. Only four such specimens are known to exist. Sotheby's has estimated the price at $4 million to $6 million, and the current bid stands at $3.5 million.
Also on offer is the 'largest piece of Mars on Earth,' a
Martian meteorite
discovered in Niger's Kefkaf region in 2023. It was later verified by the Shanghai Astronomy Museum. Known as NWA 16788, the meteorite is 70% larger than the next largest known
Mars rock
on Earth and makes up about 6.5% of all Martian material identified on the planet. It is expected to sell for $2 million to $4 million.
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Apple-1 computer and early tech manual in spotlight
The History of Science & Technology section features an Apple-1 computer known as the 'Romkey' model. It is one of the original 50 units hand-built by
Steve Jobs
and Steve Wozniak and is estimated to fetch between $400,000 and $600,000. It previously sold for $365,000 in 2015. This batch was commissioned by Paul Terrell, owner of the Byte Shop, after he saw a demo at the Home Brew Computer Club.
Another rare item is the only known copy of the first electronic computer manual — for the Binary Automatic Computer (BINAC) — written in 1949 by Joseph D. Chapline. Sotheby's has valued it between $30,000 and $50,000.
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Apollo artifacts and Buzz Aldrin's lunar checklist lead space collection
In the Space Exploration category, the complete set of 11 flown Apollo Robbins Medallions from Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa's collection is a key lot. These medallions, minted in limited numbers for each Apollo mission, were flown as mementos. The set is expected to sell for $100,000 to $150,000.
Also featured is a sheet from the Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Checklist, signed by Buzz Aldrin and marked 'CARRIED IN EAGLE / TO THE LUNAR SURFACE.' It is accompanied by a letter from Aldrin, stating, 'If conditions arose where Neil Armstrong and I had to make an immediate lift-off from the moon, we would have referred to this sheet … The complete checklist for lunar surface activities was a vital document to the success of our mission. It provided information on steps required to operate equipment associated with the first lunar landing.' The lot carries an estimated value of $20,000 to $30,000.
Sotheby's Geek Week continues to draw interest from collectors of science, technology, and space history.
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