A rare first-edition "Toy Story" book signed by Steve Jobs will go up for auction on April 30, 2026, in Los Angeles, tied directly to the Pixar IPO that made him a billionaire.
Nate D. Sanders Auctions will auction a rare Steve Jobs artifact on April 30, in Los Angeles. Bidding will start at $20,000, targeting seasoned collectors of high-end Apple and film memorabilia.
A first-edition copy of "Toy Story: The Art and Making of the Animated Film" signed by Steve Jobs and John Lasseter anchors the lot. Their signatures tie together Pixar's financial backing and creative leadership at a pivotal moment in the company's history.
An original "Toy Story" promotional brochure housed in a red leather case is also included. Added material presents the offering as a complete display piece with stronger historical context.
The book has a documented ownership history tied to its origin. Image credit: Nate D. Sanders Auctions
Nate D. Sanders is running the sale as a timed online auction, and bidding stays open and extends when activity increases near the close. Late bidding often drives higher final prices for items with strong collector demand.
The book has a documented ownership history tied to its origin. A software developer who worked on "Toy Story" originally owned the copy, linking it directly to Pixar's production environment and giving the auction house clear provenance.
From near shutdown to a defining IPO
Jobs acquired Pixar in February 1986 for $10 million, paying $5 million to George Lucas for the Lucasfilm computer graphics division and committing another $5 million in working capital after leaving Apple. He renamed the unit Pixar and set out to build a standalone animation studio.
Over the next nine years, Jobs funded the company through persistent losses and personally covered monthly cash shortfalls. The business struggled to establish a sustainable model during that stretch.
An original "Toy Story" promotional brochure housed in a red leather case is also included. Image credit: Nate D. Sanders Auctions
An estimated $50 million of his own money went into keeping Pixar alive, alongside efforts to sell the company to Microsoft, Paul Allen, Hallmark, and Larry Ellison. Jobs later said he might not have bought Pixar if he had known the full cost, and the company came within days of shutting down entirely.
Pixar's turning point came in November 1995. The companion book was published on November 9, Toy Story premiered on November 22 as the first fully computer-animated feature film, and Pixar's IPO closed on November 29.
Jobs pushed the IPO to price at $22 per share over banker objections, and the stock opened at $47, climbed as high as $49.50, and closed at $39. The offering raised about $140 million and valued his roughly 80% stake at around $1.2 billion, turning a decade-long gamble into the moment he became a billionaire.
