Two rare 1972 Q1 microcomputers found in London clearance; one sold for £37,179
Two rare 1972 Q1 microcomputers were discovered during a London house clearance and subsequently sold at auction for significant sums. These machines, which predate the Apple 1, are considered important historical artifacts of the early computing industry.
Why it matters
The discovery highlights the historical value of early computing hardware and provides insight into the evolution of desktop technology before it became a consumer commodity.
The world's first fully integrated desktop computer was found among boxes during a London house clearance in 2023, with one of the rare machines later sold for £37,179 at auction. The computers were discovered by house-clearance firm Just Clear while workers were clearing a London property. The find included a 1972 Q1 desktop microcomputer with an internal printer and its slightly later sibling, the Q1 Lite.Only three Q1 microcomputers are known to have survived, making the two machines particularly rare. A companion printer designed for the Q1 Lite was also found during the clearance. The three devices were later offered for the first time at auction by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. The 1972 Q1 achieved the highest price, selling for £37,179.
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