An extraordinary relic from Steve Jobs' early years has found a new owner. The science project that the Apple co-founder built for his 8th-grade science fair sold at auction for $34,375. The item, dating back to 1968, represents a rare glimpse into the early technical genius of Jobs, long before he became an icon of the tech industry.
Jobs was attending Cupertino Junior High School when he designed his project, titled 'What is the SCR?' The auction lot includes a display board made of plywood with three explanatory panels and a 10-page report with the same title. The left panel features a wooden model of a typical silicon-controlled rectifier, with its four alternate layers of P- and N-Type semiconductor material. The center panel showcases test circuits that demonstrate the basic principles and characteristics of the silicon-controlled rectifier, as well as how it is most widely used. The right panel contains a diagram and description of a 25-amp silicon-controlled rectifier.
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A relic with original instructions for the judges
The project is labeled with Jobs' name, and the accompanying report is titled 'What is the Silicon-Controlled Rectifier by Steve Jobs, Science, Mrs. Yakel, Feb. 29, 1968.' A note included with the project instructs judges to plug in Circuit II and the oscilloscope to see it operate, and it asks them to 'please unplug!' the device after testing. This detail adds an authentic personal touch, showing Jobs' attention to even the smallest details, a trait that would distinguish him throughout his career.
Provenance traces back to stepbrother John Chovanec
Jobs' science project came to auction through John Chovanec, Jobs' stepbrother. Chovanec's mother, Marilyn, married Paul Jobs in 1990 and continued to live in the Jobs family home in Los Altos. After Paul Jobs died in 1993, Steve Jobs declined to collect some of his personal belongings that remained in the home. Chovanec reportedly asked Jobs several times to collect the items, and at one point said he would keep them himself. 'Fine, but I don't want to be bothered about it again,' Jobs reportedly responded. These items remained in Chovanec's possession for years, and he has now decided to sell them.
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Chovanec had previously sold other items from Jobs' early years, including posters, magazines, bow ties, a desk, and more. A 1977 Apple Computer poster sold for $659,900, while an Apple-1 Byte Shop wooden case owned by Jobs fetched $254,375. The bow ties sold for $113,580. This latest sale of the science project underscores the enduring interest in Jobs' legacy and items connected to his youth.
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The story of this project is not just a memorabilia anecdote; it offers a snapshot of the adolescence of a genius who would go on to revolutionize the world of technology. That a science fair project by a 13-year-old can fetch tens of thousands of dollars is a testament to how his legacy continues to be celebrated. For more context on tech memorabilia auctions, you can visit the Wikipedia page dedicated to Steve Jobs.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/28/steve-jobs-science-project-auction
