I was lucky enough to come across a vintage Macintosh “Picasso” poster at RedLightRunner a couple of weeks back, which I now have framed and happily adorning the wall of my basement computer room. This is one of two vintage Apple posters that I consider to be extraordinary finds, the other being a poster of the transparent Macintosh illustration from the original Macintosh sales brochure (the only one I’ve seen went on eBay for $300 about 4 months ago).
The “Picasso logo,” created by Tom Hughes and John Casado, Apple saw as the embodiment of what the Mactintosh offered consumers: a vision of style, subtlety, and frendliness that was a marked departure from any other computing experience available to users at the time. Apple, unlike any of its peers, felt that the users’ first impression of the machine, which would be formed as he or she eagerly opened up the box and began to look inside, was a critical moment. An imprinting. As such, great care and thought was put into the arrangement and design of the packages within—logo placement, use of color, shape, texture, orientation, etc. The result, the overall packaging of the Macintosh [PDF] really was a collective work of art. This aspect of the user experience is more widely appreciated by manufacturers today, but Apple is still unmatched when it comes to truly delviering on this front, and the fact that they “got it” so long ago—20 years now, is very telling.
The logo for another another of my sites, iPod Hacks (Update: long gone, now), was fully inspired by the Picasso logo.
I too, love the Picasso logo. In fact, I recently acquired a neon sign of the logo from a guy on eBay. One of these days, I’ll get it hung in a proper location in the house. I’d love to get one of those posters, but they are hard to find these days. For now, I have a large Apple logo on white above my desk. It was printed by Apple Canada, and I’ve never seen another like it.
I recently acquired a neon sign of the logo from a guy on eBay. One of these days, I’ll get it hung in a proper location in the house. I’d love to get one of those posters, but they are hard to find these days. For now, I have a large Apple logo on white above my desk. It was printed by Apple Canada, and I’ve never seen another like it.
I have an old apple poster (silk screen i believe) with a guy on a bicycle and a similar looking mac trailing behind the bike. Any ideas on what it’s worth?
I have one of the Picasso posters that I got from the computer store I worked at when the Mac first came out. It’s been backed, mounted, and framed since 1984 and has always been one of those items that some people “get” when they see it.
I have one of the Picaso style lighted signs. Made out of glass w/
the logo ecthed in color on the back side of the glass. It has a small flourescent light in the base. It is my understanding that there was very few of these made back in 1984. Any info on this
would be appreciated. Anybody interested in buying it ?
I can be reached at
graydonjohn@yahoo.com or
Graydonjohn1@mac.com
“Apple, unlike any of its peers, felt that the users’ first impression of the machine, which would be formed as he or she eagerly opened up the box and began to look inside, was a critical moment. ”
Jack Tramiel communicated this to the Vic-20 marketing team in 1980. See: _The Home Computer Wars_ by Michael Tomczyk.
I have another Macintosh “Picasso” poster in mint condition. My dad has had it back and framed ever since he first got it some twenty years ago. Anyone have any idea how much it might be worth?
I have the original of this poster which hung in the Apple Australia office for many, many years. I worked at the company for 11 years and they had a clean out to get rid of office furniture and misc. junk and someone, who didn’t have a sense of history or know its value, added it to the pile. It was around the time that Steve returned to the company and the directive may have been to remove any old stuff from display.
This poster, in it’s original brushed chrome frame, is one of the original screen printed posters and now hangs in my computer room at home. I left Apple nearly four years ago but Macs are still my system of choice.
I haven’t dismantled the frame to see whether this poster has been signed by the Macintosh dev team as was rumored when it was hanging on the wall in the offices. It is a fantastic piece of memorabilia for me…
I have a Macintosh Picasso light in Mint condition that I have been saving since I received it as an Authorized Apple Dealer in the mid 80’s. For all of you specialists out there, let me know if you are interested in adding it to your collection and I may part with it for the special 25th anniversay. Regards, BrianHCEO brian@techpalooza.com
I have 2 prints from Apple the original Lisa computer print signed and numbered and I have the one at Donner Lake, Apple Hot Air balloon. Does anyone know what those are worth?
i just posted the predecessor to this poster on ebay.
http://bit.ly/9dWdLi
I have this poster for sale if anyone is interested. It has some very slight mold marks. I can be reach at f l i p d e s i g n o h i o a t g m a i l d o t c o m
Saw one of these on Ebay just now. Was looking to find one cheaper…. Freakin expensive for a poster but cool as hell. Curious if it will sell.
I have an original 1984 Apple Macintosh etched glass
“picasso” light, an original 1984 Macintosh golf shirt that says ” I’d rather
be driving a Macintosh” and an original wall poster (framed, frame is original also)
of the Apple Macintosh
“Picasso”design on it. All of them are in mint condition. I have had all three
Pieces since 1984. They are all one owner.
Any idea how much they are worth.
I would be interested in your 1984 Apple Macintosh etched glass
“picasso” light. Please email me at knighstalker@yahoo.com.
Hi,
Do you still have any of the Mac items?
Thanks!
Scott
I have one of the lighted etched picasso lights. I am interested in selling. Let me know if you are still interested. Loretta
Vintage Apple Macintosh Poster 1984 Picasso Mac Logo
I have a vintage Apple Macintosh poster 1984 Picasso Mac logo in the original tube. It has never been removed. The poster is as new. The tube originally contained two posters I took one out in 1987 when I was given the sealed tube. I worked for Apple at the time.
The other poster is lost to history.
Apple Part No M1106
Mint condition with Tube.
Size: 22″ x 28″
Erik – let me know about that Picasso logo poster in tube if you still have it. Thanks, Karl – support@macnificent.com
I am interested in buying any Apple Mac products as above for my design studio. Let me know if anything is still available, rchughes@me.com. Rob.
Hi Guys,
I am looking for the “Picaso” poster and the light up dealer sign. Also any other retro Apple posters of larger size from the 1980s.
gmaxim@gmail.com
I recently bought several vintage/original Apple & Macintosh posters from a neighbor who had them in her garage for many years. The largest is a long “test drive a macintosh” I also have 2 “Picasso” logo posters. I could find pictures of these on google but not much information. All together I have 12 or so different posters, to include a giant ear, a clear apple poster (2 pieces), one with Steve Jobs on it and more.
I’m interested in selling them. tazak@live.com
I have an original Apple Macintosh etched glass “picasso” light and looking to find a good home for it. Excellent condition. Free ‘Inside the Macintosh’ and a the ‘Making 1984 commercial video goes with the light at no charge.
I am interested in the light if it is reasonably priced. I sold Apple stuff from 1984-1998 and had one, but it was lost in an apartment fire a few years ago. Thanks, Jim
Hi! Love this read! I rescued 9 of the 1998 Think Different
Posters from the trash at the Apple Specialist store I worked . I sold to commercial customers, mainly .
I also asked our , new owner, who did not like Macintosh /Apple at all. I asked him if I could have the 128k Mac , software, ImageWriter and the box it came in. Still have it, still works !
Loved working as a specialist and getting to train at Apple on education sales and one of 21 to test OSX