The History of Science auction at Bonhams New York on 22 October climaxed with the $905,000-sale of the Apple-1 computer, almost double its high estimate, making it the world's most valuable relic from the Computer Age.

Apple-1, the first pre-assembled personal computer ever sold, is widely acknowledged as the harbinger of the personal computer revolution. The computer auctioned at Bonhams is one of 50 which Steve Wozniak hand-built in Steve Jobs' garage - some say his sister's bedroom - in the summer of 1976.

The winning bid was made in the saleroom by a smiling representative of the Henry Ford Museum, who triumphantly raised the paddle after fierce competition with a bidder on the telephone.

As well as the beautifully preserved motherboard, this Apple-1 came with a vintage keyboard with pre-7400-series military specification chips, a vintage Sanyo monitor, a custom power supply in a wooden box, as well as two vintage tape-decks.

The lot also included ephemera from the 'Cincinnati AppleSiders', such as their first newsletter, Poke-Apple, from February 1979, and a video-recording of Steve Wozniak's keynote speech at the 1980 'Applevention'.

Cassandra Hatton, the senior specialist in charge of the auction, commented on the success of the Apple-1: 'The provenance of the Apple-1 is excellent, and the condition is outstanding, so it was not surprising that it did so well.

'We are so happy to have broken the world record for its sale, and even more thrilled that it is going to a wonderful new home at the Henry Ford Museum.'

The next History of Science sale will be held in October 2015.