Photos: Images from computing's history

Images from computing's history A letter from Edmund C. Berkeley outlining plans for the development of electronic computers was auctioned by Christie's on Feb. 23. Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus Development and now an advocate for open-source computing, nabbed the document for $72,000. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history This Brainiac electric brain kit from 1966 was designed to teach people the principles of digital computing. The estimated value of the kit was between $800 and $1,200; it sold for $1,800. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history Christie's auctioneer Thomas Lecky (left) takes bids for "The Origins of Cyberspace" collection of early computing artifacts. Credit: Marguerite Reardon Related stories: Images from computing's history A children's game from around 1970 was designed with the help of French computer company Bull. The game was estimated to be worth between $600 and $800, but it was among items that didn't sell at Christie's auction. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history The Christie's auction included a group of photographs related to the ENIAC project from the 1940s. Estimated to be worth $20,000 to $30,000, the photos sold for $16,000. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history MIT's Whirlwind 1 computer was among documents from computing's history auctioned by Christie's. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history This document is an English translation of L.F. Menabrea's "Sketch of the Analytical Engine," which was invented by Charles Babbage, also known as the "father of computing." The translator was Augusta Ada King, countess of Lovelace and daughter of Lord Byron. It sold for $78,000, well above its estimated value of $30,000 to $40,000. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history Before the auction, it was estimated that "Giant brains or machines that think," a 1948 Edmund C. Berkeley typescript with handwritten footnotes, could go for $30,000. Mitch Kapor paid $16,000 for it. Credit: Christie's Related stories: Images from computing's history A group of documents relating to Samuel F.B. Morse's invention of the first electromagnetic telegraph line was expected to sell for $15,000 to $20,000. Credit: Christie's Related stories: