Rare table card from Steve Jobs's 30th birthday celebration at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on February 23, 1985, which derives from the personal collection of a close friend and former high school classmate of the Apple co-founder, who was one of a select few to sit with Jobs at his table during the birthday celebration. The cream-colored sheet, 5.5 x 5.5, features an "Old Hindu Proverb" above a sentiment of appreciation from Jobs; they read: "'For the first thirty years of your life; you make your habits. For the last thirty years of your life, your habits make you," and "You've helped me acquire my habits (good and bad). Thank you for joining me tonight to celebrate thirty more years of living with them." A small black bow tie with white polka dots is printed at the bottom. In fine condition, with a horizontal fold, and faint evidence on the back from onetime storage in a magnetic photo album.
Accompanied by a newspaper clipping of Herb Caen's column from the February 26, 1985 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, mentioning Jobs's party and calling him "Apple's chairman and the rock star of the computer world," and by a letter of provenance from the original recipient: "I knew Steve Jobs from junior high and high school, from classes and clubs and outings. We were friends. After college, I hung out in his garage as Apple was becoming a real thing. I was delighted to be invited to his black tie 30th birthday party at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on February 23, 1985. I invited my father, who said he'd be happy to 'bask in the reflected glory of Steve Jobs!' We were seated at Steve's table. It was a lovely evening. Ella Fitzgerald sang 'Happy Birthday to You.' I saved the printed note that was at every place setting, which thanked the guests for coming and featured a bow tie, one of his trademarks in those early pre-turtleneck days. I was impressed that it warranted a write-up in Herb Caen's popular column in the San Francisco Chronicle. It was a truly memorable event. Steve characterized the party as a celebration of 'thirty more years,' which, sadly, he was unable to attain."
