Factory-sealed original iPhone sells for $39,340 at auction

An original iPhone that was still factory sealed has fetched $39,339.60 when the hammer fell during LCG Auction's 2022 Fall Premier event.

LCG's 2022 Fall Premier Auction ended on October 16, with bids for a variety of items closing after weeks of battle. The second lot, listed as an "Original 2007 Apple iPhone Factory Sealed (First Release) managed to reach the record price, exceeding expectations of $30,000.

The 8GB model, which shipped with a 2-megapixel camera, was still in its box and was kept in "exceptional condition." Said to be "virtually flawless along the surface and edges," it still had a tight factory seal and pristine labels on the reverse.

Adding to the rarity of the lot is the lack of any extra after-market stickers and UPC labels, with the packaging completely unmarked.

"We expected the bidding for this item to be fervent and it did not disappoint as a handful of avid and sophisticated collectors drove the price from just over $10,000 on Sunday afternoon to this record-setting amount by Sunday night," said LCG Auctions founder Mark Montero.

According to the bidding history, 28 bids were placed for the device. It reached $10,000 by October 14, before a flurry of activity raised the price on October 16 in just over two hours.

The price is an increase from another factory-sealed iPhone that sold at auction in August. At the time, the iPhone sold for $35,414. At the same auction, an unopened first-generation 5GB iPod sold for $25,000.

Other major lots at the LCG auction include a 1978 Star Wars Luke Skywalker Action Figure with Double Telescoping Lightsaber ($33,359), a 1987 G.I. Joe Defiant Playset ($32,340), and a 1986 M.A.S.K Boulder Hill Playset ($7,783).