Steve Jobs’ autographs are now the most valuable in the world according to the Celebrity Memorabilia Index.
So we've written the definitive guide to the 22 genuine Steve Jobs autographs and signatures that are known to exist.
That's right. Just 22.
For the purpose of this study we are making a definition between Signature and Autograph.
- A Signature will be deemed to have been used for business use.
- An Autograph will be deemed to be an 'in person' signing.
The known autographs and signatures are listed in date order, from Steve Job's earliest known signature in 1973, to his last known autograph in June 2011, signed shortly before his death in October 2011.
There are certain characteristics to look for:
- There is a tendency to see 'steve/n' written at an upward angle and 'jobs' written at a downward angle, especially on same line signings.
- The 's' of 'steve/n' is usually equal in height to, or slightly higher, than the crossed 't',
- The 'teve' of Steve is always continuous. The S is slightly separate or touching.
- There is a long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- The 'v' of 'steve' always drops to the 'e'.
- jobs is always written in a continuous line joining all letters
- The 'j' of jobs has a long and narrow loop
- The 'o' to 'b' of Jobs develops into a straighter line in later years
- There is always an open 'b' to 'jobs'
- The extended tail of the 's' of jobs of earlier years returns in later signings.
1. Steve Jobs 1973 signature:
We're classifying this as Jobs' earliest known signature, despite it being handwriting, as Jobs' signatures are all in lower case.
An 18 year old Steve's signature appears on a 1973 job application for employment as an 'electronics tech or design engineer'.
Believed to Jobs' application for employment at either ATARI or Reed College Psych Lab.
Sold by RR Auction in 2018 for $174,757.
Characteristics:
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- jobs is continuous
- Open b to jobs
2. Steve Jobs 1976 signature 1:
Job's 1976 signature appears on the original Apple founding contract signed by Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on 1st April 1976.
Estimated at $100,000 by Sotheby's the partnership agreement sold for $1,594,500 in December 2011, the buyer being Eduardo Cisneros of the Cisneros Corporation.
Characteristics:
- teven is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- jobs continuous
- open b in jobs
- A very extended tail to s of jobs
3. Steve Jobs 1976 signature 2:
An Apple Computer cheque signed by Steve Jobs which sold for $55,000 in June 2022.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teven is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
- A very extended tail to s of jobs
4. Steve Jobs 1976 Autograph 3:
A 1976 Apple signed cheque to Elmar Electronics for $13.86. Sold by RR Auctions on March 16 2023 for $37,564.
Characteristics:
- teven is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
- A very extended S tail in Jobs
5. Steve Jobs 1976 - Autograph 4
A cheque for $175 made payable to Crampton, Remke and Miller, a management consulting company in Palo Alto.
Sold by RR Auction in May 2023 for $106,985.
We consider this to be the finest known Steve Jobs signature, to date.
>Characteristics:
6. Steve Jobs 1980 signature:
Apple II Manual signed by Jobs and Angel Investor Mike Markkula.
Sold in August 2021 for $787,484.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- teven is continuous
- v drops to e
- jobs continuous
- A very extended tail to the 's' of jobs
7. Steve Jobs [date unknown] Autograph:
Signed card with quote 'Go change the world!'.
Sold by RR Auction in September 2022 for $25,599.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- teve is continuous
- v drops to e
- Looped b to jobs
- Open b to jobs
- jobs is not continuous
8. Steve Jobs 1982 Autograph
A Time Magazine cover "Striking it Rich" signed in black ink.
Sold for $35,225 by RR Auction in September 2022.
The Time magazine was offered again in April 2023 by Mynt Auctions, and was listed as selling for $100,000.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teve is continuous
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v dropes to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Unusual for having a closed b in jobs.
- The 's' of 'steve' is lower than the cross of the 't'.
9. Steve Jobs 1982 Autograph 2
This autograph appears on an 1982 American Academy of Achievement Awards program, also signed by Hershel Walker.
Sold for $22,878 in August 2021.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teven is continuous
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- v drops to e
- Open b to jobs
- The 's' of 'steve' is lower than the cross of the 't'.
10. Steve Jobs 1982 Autograph 3
Signed for the graphic designer who produced the 1982 Apple Annual report.
"Mark - thanks for caring, your (sic) great"
Sold for $23,750 in September 2018.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
- A very extended tail to s of jobs
- Steve not continuous
- Mispelt YOUR instead of YOU'RE
11. Steve Jobs 1983 Autograph
Probably the most well-publicised Steve Jobs autograph, the famous 'I don't sign autographs' letter.
Sold for $479,939 in August 2021.
Characteristics:
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
- A very extended tail to s of jobs
12. Steve Jobs 1983 Autograph
An integrated circuit signed 'steve jobs'. Sold by RR Auction on March 16 2023 for $23,320.
Characteristics:
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- Open b to jobs
- Extended tail to s of jobs
- jobs is not continuous
13. Steve Jobs 1984 Autograph
A copy of MacWorld magazine #1 signed by Jobs and his fellow Apple founder Steve Wozniak.
Sold for $201,021 in 2021 to Jim Irsay.
Characteristics:
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- Open b to jobs
- Highly unusual looped s to steve
- v does not drop to e
- Highly unusual open o to jobs
- 'jobs' is not continuous
14. Steve Jobs 1988 Autograph
A signed Newsweek cover 'Steven Jobs. I love manufacturing'.
Sold for $50,587 at RR Auction in October 2017.
Characteristics:
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- Jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
- No dot to j
15. Steve Jobs 1988 Autograph
Signed Macintosh computer.
Characteristics:
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- open b to jobs
16. Steve Jobs 1989 Autograph
A business card signed by Steve Jobs for an employee of Motorola software when Jobs was keynote speaker at the Motorola Software Engineering Symposium in August 1989.
This was the first Steve Jobs autograph to be sold at auction, when it achieved $5,676 at RR Auction in April 2012.
Ed: if anyone has an image of this one please email us at info@thememorabiliaclub.com
17. Steve Jobs 1992 Autograph
A signed NeXTWORLD expo poster signed by Jobs for an employee of Canon USA.
After resigning from Apple Jobs worked for the NeXT venture before it was purchased by Apple, with Jobs returning to his role as CEO at Apple.
The poster sold for $19,600 in March 2017.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
- teve is not continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is considerably higher than the cross of the 't'
18. Steve Jobs 1993 Autograph
NeXSTEP software package signed by Jobs in 1993.
Estimated at $30,000 this sold for $210,235 in 2021;
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- This is the only example that has a closed b in Jobs.
- It is also the only example with a separate j in jobs
Note: the ‘o’ to ‘b’ in jobs is now a straighter line
19. Steve Jobs 2001 Autograph.
A 338 page Apple Mac OS X Administration manual signed 'All the best, Steve Jobs'.
Signed for a trainee Apple technician in 2001 in the Apple carpark as Jobs approached his Mercedes at the end of the day.
RR Auction sold the manual in March 2018 for $41,806.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- The scrappiest of all known Autographs, perhaps as the item was held in his hand and reluctantly signed with haste
20. Steve Jobs 2008 Autograph
A signed copy of the Palo Alto Daily Post, with the front cover showing Jobs speaking at WWDC to introduce the iPhone 3G.
The provenance states Jobs signed the newspaper at a yoghurt stand, but only agreeing to so if the man sitting next to him also signed, hence the additional signature of Tony Fadell, known as the father of the iPod.
RR Auction sold the newspaper clipping for $26,950 in March 2018.
Characteristics:
- teve is continous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- Open b to jobs
21. Steve Jobs 2010 Autograph
A Steve Jobs handwritten quote and autograph "All good things. steve jobs." written for 'Yukako', the daughter of Ohnishi Toshiya, the owner of the Sushiiwa restaurant in Kyoto in Japan.
Sushiiwa was Jobs' favourite sushi restaurant when he visted Japan, and where this was signed on his last visit to Kyoto.
This autograph was witnessed by Oshima Hiroshi who acted as Jobs' chauffeur and tour guide in Japan, driving him on 4 vists, the last in 2010.
Ohnishi is on record as stating "He might have been aware of when his life would end, since he passed away just one year later," "Maybe that's why he chose not to write the whole sentence, and only the first three words." (ie 'all good things come to an end')
Characteristics:
The extension to the ‘s’ of Jobs has returned as per the original Apple contract of 1976, the cheque signing of 1976 and the signings of 1982, 1983 and 1993
- steve up jobs down
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- teve is continuous
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- o to b is a straighter line
- Open b to jobs
- A very extended tail to 's' of jobs
22. Steve Jobs 2011 Autograph
'All best things. steve jobs' written in a 2010 edition of Carmine Gallo's 'The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs'.
Obtained in 2011 this is Jobs' last known autograph, and is in very similar penmanship to the 2010 Kyoto signing.
Email provenance states that the autograph was obtained by a staff member at The Moscone Center West in San Franciso in June 2011 - at the Apple Developers Conference, where Jobs was the keynote speaker - who then gifted the book to his brother.
This is, to date, Steve Jobs' last known signing, and is therefore a historically significant piece.
Jobs passed away on 5 October 2011.
Characteristics:
- steve up jobs down
- teve is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- Long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- v drops to e
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- o to b is a straighter line
- Open b to jobs
- A very extended tail to 's' of jobs
Summary - the 7 best examples?
If we conclude that the 2 x signed checks (1) & (2) have to be 100% authentic by their very nature, then the governing characteristics of a Steve Jobs signature/autograph are:
- teve/n is continuous
- The 's' of 'steve' is equal to, or slightly higher, than the cross of the 't'.
- There is a long lead into the 's' of 'steve'
- The 'v' drops to the 'e' in steve
- jobs is continuous
- 'j' of jobs has a long narrow loop
- The 'b' to jobs is open
- There is an extended tail to 's 'of jobs
The 1980 signature that sold for $787,484 also matches the criteria, as do the later autographs in Japan 2010 (which was also witnessed), and the 2011 Moscone Centre West example, the 1983 'I don't sign autographs' letter, and the 1976 Crampton, Remke and Miller cheque.
Note: If you know of any other authentic examples of Steve Jobs autographs and signatures please email us with info and images at info@thememorabiliaclub.com
If you believe you have an authentic Steve Jobs autograph and would like an opinion please click here.