Apple-1 computer made 50 years ago up for auction

(CBS, KYMA) - A rare piece of tech history is up for auction as an Apple-1 computer, made in 1976, is being sold this month, and expected to fetch up to $800,000.

It's called the Hatfield, for its original owner, Fred Hatfield.

It's a fully functional first-generation computer, one of only 74 left, and is signed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and comes with a letter from Steve Jobs.

Auction house Bonhams said the item shows how involved the two pioneers were in every aspect of their company in those formative years.

"The only Apple One known to sort of have this associated correspondence from Steve Jobs with it, which serves as a primary source documentation of this trade-in program that they had, which is something that Apple continues to do to this day," said Jeffrey Kral, a specialist at Bonhams.

Hatfield had complained about the limited software available and was given the option to trade the device in for the new Apple-2, but ultimately held on to the original.