Heritage Auctions Houses Rare First-Ever Q1 Personal Computer
Heritage Auctions is, at present, hosting a sale of several rare tech artifacts, among them the world’s first microcomputer, the Q1, powered by a single-chip Inlel 8008 microprocessor. Remarkably, this tech relic was stumbled upon earlier this year during a thorough clean-out of a storeroom at Kingston University in London. The auction includes the 1972 Q1 system, a compatible printer, and a 1976 model Q1 Lite computer equipped with an in-built printer.
As of the time of report, bidding for the Q1 computer stands at $8500, while the Q1 Lite with the integrated printer is priced by a potential buyer at $32,000, and a standalone printer has a bid of $1200. It’s worth noting that the vintage devices are sold as they were found – they haven’t been turned on or tested since their discovery, and there’s no guarantee of function. There are even traces of half a century’s dust on them, though minimal due to storage in boxes.
![Dust-coated Q1 computer found at Kingston University](https://davesipaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1716560909_38_sluchayno-naydennyy-pervyy-v-mire-personalnyy-kompyuter-vystavlen-na-aukcion.jpg)
![Dust-coated Q1 computer found at Kingston University](https://davesipaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1716560909_38_sluchayno-naydennyy-pervyy-v-mire-personalnyy-kompyuter-vystavlen-na-aukcion.jpg)
Enthusiasm for these unquestionably historic computer relics is expected to escalate before the climax of the auction scheduled for today (May 24).
![Vintage Q1 computer and its accessories on auction](https://davesipaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1716560909_630_sluchayno-naydennyy-pervyy-v-mire-personalnyy-kompyuter-vystavlen-na-aukcion.jpg)
![Vintage Q1 computer and its accessories on auction](https://davesipaq.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1716560909_630_sluchayno-naydennyy-pervyy-v-mire-personalnyy-kompyuter-vystavlen-na-aukcion.jpg)
The Q1 computer systems were a commercial misfire after their 1972 market debut. While most of the devices were acquired by NASA, the New York-based company failed to achieve commercial success with this system. However, these neglected pieces of technology are now historical, and history always holds value.