According to the California-based auction house, the late Apple co-founder wore these sandals during many pivotal moments in Apple's history.
Digital Desk: An auction is ongoing for
a pair of brown suede leather Birkenstock sandals worn by Apple co-founder
Steve Jobs in the 1970s and 1980s. Anyone interested in owning the pair of
sandals worn by Jobs can bid for them for more than Rs 18 lakh! While the bid
began at $15,000 (Rs 12 lakh), it has already received two bids for $22,500.
(over Rs 18 lakh).
Juliens Auctions,
which has put the sandals up for bid, estimates that Jobs' Birkenstock sandals
will fetch between $60,000 and $80,000 (Rs 48 lakh to Rs 65 lakh). According to
the California-based auction house, the late Apple co-founder wore these
sandals during many pivotal moments in Apple's history.
“The sandals are well used, but still appear intact. Each sandal
features its original Birkenstock adjustable buckles and Birkenstock stamping
on the inner edge of the suede leather foot straps. The cork and jute footbed
retains the imprint of Steve Jobs' feet, which had been shaped after years of
use. The rubber soles of the sandals show heavy wear from use. Includes a hard
case for protective storage and transport,” the description on the auction
website writes.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Jobs would wear this particular pair of
sandals. This pair of Birkenstock sandals was previously owned by Mark Sheff,
Steve Jobs' house manager. Sheff claims in an article for Business Insider that
he got these Birkenstocks and other items because "he [Jobs] kept very few
things."
When Jobs wore those sandals, it was a watershed moment in
Apple's history. While occasionally wearing these sandals, he hatched the
beginnings of the Apple computer in a Los Altos garage with Apple co-founder
Steve Wozniak in 1976.
Jobs became enthralled by the ingenuity and practicality of
Birkenstocks. Margot Fraser, who introduced the brand to the US, was one of
Steve's first calls after trying on the iconic sandal.
The suede leather
sandals were displayed at many exhibitions around the world before being put up
for auction at Juliens, the most recent being at the History Museum Wurttemberg
in Germany. They still have Jobs' foot prints on them. Julien's Auctions described
them as "well-used but still appear intact."
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