DS, twice-signed “Steven Jobs,” eight pages, 8.5 x 11, August 17, 1978. Partnership agreement between Jobs and Robert Friedland for a place of business located at “Rt 2, Box 472, McMinnville, Oregon.” The eight-article document includes provision for the purpose of the business, “The partnership shall engage in the business of investments, including particularly but not being limited to real estate investments, and in such other business of a similar nature or related thereto as shall be agreed upon by the partners.” Other articles include capital contributions, profits and losses, management, their partnership, and the dissolution of the partnership. Signed on page seven in blue ballpoint by Jobs, “Steven Jobs,” and Friedland, “Robt. M. Friedland.” The eighth page, labeled “Exhibit A,” is also signed by Jobs and Friedland, and lists a 170-acre property in Oregon for the business. Document is still stapled into its original legal folder. In fine condition, with expected document wear. Accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA.
Before they became billionaire business tycoons, Jobs met Friedland, the charismatic student body president at Reed College, and was instantly captivated. Though the future Mac genius dropped out of Reed after six months to begin developing computers with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, he continued to spend a great deal of time with Friedland, taking spiritual trips to India and working on his communal farm and apple orchard near McMinnsville; numerous accounts, including one from Wozniak, have attributed the Apple name to Jobs’s time working in the orchard. This extremely rare and intriguing document solidifies claims of the strong connection between the two young entrepreneurs. With the success of the Apple II, which hit the market in 1977, and preparation for what would become one of the most successful IPOs in history, Jobs had almost completely distanced himself from Friedland by 1980. Authentically signed Steve Jobs material is exceedingly hard to find, and this twice-signed document, incredibly substantial and significant in its connection to a major figure in his life, is of the utmost rarity. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA.
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