Ron Wayne’s original set of five 34 x 22 diagram blueprints for the cabinet design of the Apple II personal computer, each signed in the lower right corner in black ink by the Apple co-founder, "Ronald G. Wayne,” who signs over his embossed personal seal. Each blueprint is identified in the “Apple Computer” key to the lower right with the subject name, and with sheet and document numbers. The blueprints include the following: “Top Assembly Enclosure” (2), both numbered “00500,” Sheets 1 and 2, with the latter containing a 27-piece material list to the right side; “Panel Assembly, Right & Left,” numbered “00501-xx,” Sheet 1/1, with 10-piece material list and lower notes section; “Panel, Side, Right & Left,” numbered “00514-xx,” Sheet 1/1, with central notes section and material request of “1/2˝ Thk mahogany black walnut”; and “Frame, Panel, Right & Left,” numbered 00515-xx,” Sheet 1/1, with notes section and material (“1018 cold rolled steel”) and finish (“Commercial grade satin chrome”) requests. Each blueprint is individually mounted and framed to an overall size of 38 x 26.25. In overall fine condition, with trivial edgewear, and toning to intersecting folds.
Accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity from Wayne for each blueprint, with all attesting that each “original, Blueline print [was] taken from an original pencil drawing which I, Ronald G. Wayne, created as an early concept document for a proposed Apple Computer cabinet design. This further certifies that the original pencil drawing from which this Blueline print was reproduced, was created personally by the undersigned, in December 1976/January 1977, and that since the original drawing had been delivered to Mr. Steve Jobs, this print has been held in my personal possession. I have only ever had one copy of the document, after I completed the drawings for Mr. Jobs in January 1977, and this is that original copy.”
Although Ron Wayne’s partnership with Apple was short-lived, he continued to work for and with the company throughout its early years. He famously created Apple’s first logo of Isaac Newton under an apple tree, and he was later contracted by Steve Jobs to produce case designs for the forthcoming, more ambitious Apple II computer.
Provenance: Christie’s Auctions, The Ron Wayne Apple Archive, December 2014.
