The original Apple logo, designed in 1976, depicted Sir Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, with a banner reading “Apple Computer Co.” surrounding the image. It was created by co-founder Ronald Wayne and was used for only about a year before being replaced by the iconic rainbow apple. This article explores the story behind that first logo, its design details, and why Apple changed it.
Formula
The calculator above simply subtracts the year you select from the current year (2025) to find how many years ago that logo was in use. The formula is:
Years since = Current Year − Selected Year
Where Current Year is 2025 and Selected Year is the year you input (between 1976 and 2024). The result is a whole number representing the age of that logo version.
Worked Example
Using the default value of 1976:
- Start with the current year: 2025
- Subtract the selected year: 2025 − 1976 = 49
The calculator shows 49 years since the original logo was introduced.
The Newton Logo: What It Looked Like
The original logo was a detailed pen-and-ink illustration, not the clean minimalism we associate with Apple today. It showed Isaac Newton reclining under a tree, with an apple about to fall on his head. The image was framed by a decorative border, and a ribbon-like banner carried the words “Apple Computer Co.” The design was inspired by a famous moment in scientific lore—Newton’s realization of gravity after watching an apple fall.
Ronald Wayne, who had previously worked with Steve Jobs at Atari, drew the logo by hand. He used a style reminiscent of Victorian engravings, which gave it an old-world, scholarly feel. The logo was also accompanied by an outer border that included the full company name, making it more like a seal or a bookplate than a modern tech emblem.
Why Apple Replaced It So Quickly
Steve Jobs felt the Newton logo was too intellectual and cluttered for a consumer electronics company. He wanted something simpler, more modern, and instantly recognizable. In 1977, Jobs commissioned graphic designer Rob Janoff to create a new logo. Janoff produced the now-famous rainbow apple with a bite taken out of it—a design that would become one of the most recognized symbols in the world.
The rainbow apple was chosen partly because the Apple II was one of the first computers with color graphics, and the rainbow stripes echoed that capability. The bite was added to give scale (so it wouldn’t be mistaken for a cherry) and to make the shape more distinctive. The Newton logo was retired after barely a year of use.
Ronald Wayne’s Role and the Logo’s Rarity
Ronald Wayne is often called the “lost founder” of Apple. He sold his 10% stake in the company just 12 days after it was founded, for $800. As part of his departure, he also relinquished any claim to the logo he had designed. Because the Newton logo was used so briefly and on so few products, it is extremely rare today.
Items bearing the original logo—such as the Apple I computer manual, early correspondence, and the original partnership agreement—are highly sought after by collectors. A signed copy of the Apple partnership agreement, which featured the Newton logo, sold at auction for over $1.5 million in 2018. The logo itself, however, is not a standalone collectible; it exists only on those few surviving documents and early Apple products.
How the Logo Was Used
The Newton logo appeared on the Apple I computer’s manual and on the company’s earliest letterhead. It was also etched onto the Apple I circuit board, though that version was simpler—just the word “Apple” and the company name, without the full Newton illustration. The logo was never placed on the Apple I’s exterior case, because the Apple I was sold as a bare circuit board that users had to assemble into their own enclosure.
For the Apple II, which launched in 1977, the rainbow logo was used prominently on the case, in print ads, and on the box. The transition from the Newton logo to the rainbow apple was swift and complete, leaving almost no overlap period. This is why the original logo is so closely tied to the very earliest days of Apple’s history.
Common Misconceptions About the Original Logo
One common myth is that the original Apple logo was a tribute to Alan Turing, the father of computer science who died after biting a cyanide-laced apple. This is false—the Newton logo predates any such tribute, and the rainbow apple was designed without any reference to Turing. The bite in the rainbow logo was purely for scale and distinction, not as a code or homage.
Another misconception is that the Newton logo was used for several years. In reality, it was used for less than 12 months. The company was founded on April 1, 1976, and the rainbow logo appeared in early 1977. That means the original logo was in use for less than a year, making it one of the shortest-lived major tech logos ever.
What Happened to the Original Logo Artwork
Ronald Wayne kept a copy of the original logo artwork, and he later sold it. The pen-and-ink drawing, along with other early Apple documents, was auctioned in 2011 and fetched over $27,000. Wayne has said he never regretted leaving Apple, but he has acknowledged that the logo he designed is now a piece of computing history.
Today, the Newton logo is often used as a nostalgic symbol of Apple’s founding era. It appears in books, documentaries, and museum exhibits about the company’s early days. It is also a popular subject for fan art and retro merchandise, though Apple itself has never officially reused it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the original Apple logo?
Ronald Wayne, one of Apple’s three co-founders, designed it in 1976. He drew it by hand in pen and ink, and it was used on the Apple I manual and early company documents.
Why did Apple change from the Newton logo to the rainbow apple?
Steve Jobs thought the Newton logo was too complex and old-fashioned. He wanted a modern, simple mark that would be easy to reproduce and recognize. Rob Janoff’s rainbow apple was cleaner, more colorful, and better suited to a consumer electronics brand.
How much is the original Apple logo worth?
The logo itself isn’t sold separately, but items bearing it are valuable. The Apple I manual with the logo can sell for thousands of dollars, and the original partnership agreement with the logo sold for over $1.5 million at auction.
Was the original Apple logo ever on a computer?
Yes, but only indirectly. The Apple I circuit board had a simple “Apple Computer Co.” label, and the manual featured the full Newton illustration. The logo was not on the exterior of any shipping product, because the Apple I was a bare board.
Is the Newton logo still used anywhere?
No, Apple retired it completely in 1977. It appears only in historical archives, collector items, and fan recreations. Apple has never officially used it again.
Related
Formula used
in t | Year of logo | year | 1976 | 1976 | 2024 out age | Years since | years | 2025 - t | 0
Each line is one input (in, sel, list) or one result (out: label, unit, formula, decimals). How the calculators work
Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.
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