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The factory sealed “Lucky You” original iPhone sold for $40,320, more expensive than some colleges – although the estimated price was much higher.
Auction house Wright auctioned the unique iPhone a few days ago on March 30. It came from Donald Gajadhar of Fox-White Art & Antique Appraisals, who recognized its unique quality.
“[It] slowly it dawned on me as I held on [this] packaged Apple mobile,” says Gajadhar. “My customer had not just an unopened mobile phone, but a truly unique version.”
“A Willy Wonka, ’24 carat’ gold ticket,” he added. The iPhone packaging had a red sticker with an Apple logo and the words “Lucky you”.
According to a AppleInsider reader who worked in Apple retail when the company launched the first iPhone, the “Lucky You” stickers were available during the holiday season when customers chose a gift wrap. “We used to have pre-cut and folded boxes that fit the products exactly and the stickers to seal them,” they said.
While the auction house estimated that the iPhone could sell for between $40,000 and $60,000, for $40,320more expensive than some tuition fees. It is not in mint condition due to a small hole in the plastic wrapping of the package, which some collectors might see as a negative.
Fox-White Art & Antique Appraisers had x-rayed the sealed package to confirm that the contents were complete and had not been tampered with.