Auction of Wikipedia’s editor’s first computer and NFT is On
The computer Jimmy Wales used to create Wikipedia is up for auction, along with an NFT commemorating his first change on the platform, auctioneers announced Friday.
Wales “used for development and research at the time of the website’s launch on January 15, 2001,” when the website launched on January 15, 2001, according to Christie’s, which is supervising the sale.
The second lot is for an NFT generated by Wales of Wikipedia’s debut onscreen image when he uploaded the first words, “Hello world,” according to Christie’s specialist Peter Klarnet.
The NFT will be presented in JPEG format and will allow the customer to edit the page, which can be “which can be reset with a timer to revert to its original state,” to its original state.
In addition to supporting WT.Social, the proceeds from the sale of the NFT will go to a range of nonprofits working in the free culture field, according to the Christie’s website.
Christie’s hopes to sell the two lots for hundreds of thousands of dollars, Klarnet added.
NFTs have become a staple of auction houses and the art market for some collectors and investors.