could your old tech be worth a fortune? A pristine, first-generation iPhone recently sold for a staggering price at auction, proving that some vintage items can be incredibly valuable. Discover the story of this remarkable sale, including the original iPhone model’s surprising auction price and the factors driving its soaring value.
Original iPhone Sells for over $190,000 at Auction
A Collector’s Dream
Do you have an old, unopened iPhone gathering dust? It might be worth more than you think.
Collectors are paying staggering sums for first-generation iPhones, especially those still in thier original, unopened packaging.
The Auction Block
A recent auction by LCG Auctions saw an exceptionally rare, factory-sealed first-generation iPhone fetch a remarkable $190,372, or approximately CZK 4,563,215.
To put that in perspective, that’s less than the price of two bitcoins or a small apartment outside of Prague.
We expected that the auction of this subject would be passionate and not disappoint us.
Mark Montero, Founder of LCG Auctions
From Drawer to Dollars
The recipient of this windfall was Karen Green, an American woman who had kept the phone for years.
Green received the iPhone as a gift, but because the first-generation device was incompatible with her carrier, verizon, she simply stored it away.
That decision proved to be incredibly lucrative.
A Revolutionary Device
Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPhone on Jan. 9, 2007, in San Francisco, declaring, Apple will reinforce the phone today.
The device didn’t hit the market until late June of that year, and even then, it was only available in select markets.
Despite the limited release, the iPhone was an instant success.
It became Apple’s best-selling product and was lauded as an invention of the year
by Time magazine.
Key Takeaways
- Unopened, first-generation iPhones are highly sought after by collectors.
- One such iPhone recently sold for over $190,000 at auction.
- The iPhone was initially priced competitively, but its value has skyrocketed.
