The unlocked first-generation iPhone 2007 is expected to sell for more than $50,000 when it goes for auction Thursday.
The phone, which has a 2MP camera and 8GB of storage, was given to Karen Green as a gift when she got a new job, Business Insider mentioned.
But Green already had a new phone, and on top of that, the iPhone wasn’t compatible with her existing cellular network.
Instead of unlocking the iPhone, Green just pinned it to the shelf. There she remained, “wrapped in a pair of pajamas,” for years.
In October, Green heard that the first generation iPhone from 2007 was his It sold for $39,339.60.
The cosmetic tattoo artist contacted LCG Auctions, the auction house that handled the sale and found themselves overwhelmed with owners of old iPhones.
“We got calls from everyone, but 99% of them didn’t have the same thing,” Mark Montero, founder of LCG Auctions, told Business Insider. “But Karen had a really unique piece that had a great story behind it.”
“It was shocking because we got so many duds,” he added.
LCG Auctions put a price estimate of “$50,000 and up” on the phone. The auction opens on Thursday and ends on February 19th.
The first generation iPhone was available with 4GB of memory for $499 or 8GB for $599.
“The touchscreen phone will combine Internet access and iPod music with an integrated 2MP digital camera and video playback features,” The Guardian mentioned in time.
In the decade since its release, Apple 1.2 billion iPhones solddominate the smartphone market.
In 2019, green Back On the TV show Doctor & the Diva, where antiques appraiser Lori Verderame values her iPhone at $5,000.
The price has gone up since then. Green said she decided to sell the iPhone now to support her new cosmetic tattoo studio in New Jersey.
“If I could wait on the phone for another 10 years, I probably would,” Green told Business Insider. “The only reason I’m selling this phone is because I need to support this business.”
