Apple Macintosh "MacWrite/MacPaint" Software Box (Mid-1980s) - Macintosh

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Toby Wickwire
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Selected by Toby Wickwire

Specialises in video games and computer collectables with 40 years' collecting experience.

Estimate  € 330 - € 380
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Apple Macintosh "MacWrite/MacPaint" software box from 1984, in very good condition and in working order, featuring a complete European set with 4 tested 800 KB disks, a factory-sealed MacWrite/MacPaint update cassette, two manuals (MacPaint Dutch, MacWrite English), an update letter dated January 18, 1984, and the original retail box bearing the European branding "Apple 32 SuperMicros" for Belgium/Netherlands.

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Description from the seller

Bring a piece of early Macintosh history under the Christmas tree with this original MacWrite / MacPaint software box, a rare and beautifully preserved set from the mid-1980s, originally sold in Belgium / The Netherlands. This is not just software — it’s the very foundation of what made the Macintosh revolutionary.

// Contents of this complete vintage set:
> 4 original Apple 800 KB floppy disks, all tested (and fully working on my own Macintosh Plus):
The floppy disks date from 1984–1987 and have been carefully tested — everything works 100%.

– System;
– MacPaint;
– MacWrite;
– A Guided Tour.

> Factory-sealed cassette tape: A Guided Tour of MacWrite / MacPaint (never opened)

> Two original manuals:
– MacPaint (Dutch version);
– MacWrite (English version).

> Original update letter: MacWrite / MacPaint Update, dated January 18, 1984

> Original retail box with “Apple 32 SuperMicros” branding on the front

// What does “Apple 32 SuperMicros” mean?
“Apple 32 SuperMicros” was not a product name or model, but a marketing and distributor label used in the early-to-mid 1980s, mainly in Europe (including Belgium and the Netherlands).

Explanation:
– “32” refers to the 32-bit architecture of the original Macintosh line (Motorola 68000 CPU), which Apple heavily promoted at the time.
– “SuperMicros” was a marketing term used to distinguish the Macintosh from the typical 8-bit home computers of the early 1980s.
– The phrase was often used by Apple-authorized distributors and resellers in Europe to emphasize that the Macintosh was a professional, advanced “super microcomputer.”

In short:
“Apple 32 SuperMicros” = early European branding highlighting the Macintosh as a powerful 32-bit professional computer.

>> Why it appears on this box:
This marking was commonly printed on locally distributed retail boxes in Belgium and the Netherlands.
It helps date the box to the early Macintosh era (circa 1984–1986). It confirms the box was intended for the European market, making it especially interesting for collectors.

>> Why collectors care:
It’s a period-correct detail that ties the item directly to the launch years of the Macintosh.
Such regional branding variations are increasingly rare.
It adds historical authenticity and regional significance to the set.

// Why this is a magical Christmas collectible
MacWrite and MacPaint were the first programs most Macintosh users ever touched — introducing WYSIWYG word processing, mouse-driven drawing, and the now-iconic Mac interface. These applications defined an era and helped change personal computing forever.

Finding a set like this — complete, tested, multilingual, with sealed media and original documentation — is increasingly rare.

// Perfect for:
– Vintage Apple & Macintosh collectors;
– Retro-computing enthusiasts;
– Museums or educational collections;
– A truly unique Christmas gift for a Mac fan.

This is a warm slice of Macintosh nostalgia — carefully preserved, professionally tested, and ready to bring joy to its next owner.

Will be shipped securely and with care — ready for the holidays.
Happy bidding, and Merry Christmas!

Seller's Story

Vintage "Macintosh Restorer" & "Apple Passionista". Because not everything is replaceable!

Bring a piece of early Macintosh history under the Christmas tree with this original MacWrite / MacPaint software box, a rare and beautifully preserved set from the mid-1980s, originally sold in Belgium / The Netherlands. This is not just software — it’s the very foundation of what made the Macintosh revolutionary.

// Contents of this complete vintage set:
> 4 original Apple 800 KB floppy disks, all tested (and fully working on my own Macintosh Plus):
The floppy disks date from 1984–1987 and have been carefully tested — everything works 100%.

– System;
– MacPaint;
– MacWrite;
– A Guided Tour.

> Factory-sealed cassette tape: A Guided Tour of MacWrite / MacPaint (never opened)

> Two original manuals:
– MacPaint (Dutch version);
– MacWrite (English version).

> Original update letter: MacWrite / MacPaint Update, dated January 18, 1984

> Original retail box with “Apple 32 SuperMicros” branding on the front

// What does “Apple 32 SuperMicros” mean?
“Apple 32 SuperMicros” was not a product name or model, but a marketing and distributor label used in the early-to-mid 1980s, mainly in Europe (including Belgium and the Netherlands).

Explanation:
– “32” refers to the 32-bit architecture of the original Macintosh line (Motorola 68000 CPU), which Apple heavily promoted at the time.
– “SuperMicros” was a marketing term used to distinguish the Macintosh from the typical 8-bit home computers of the early 1980s.
– The phrase was often used by Apple-authorized distributors and resellers in Europe to emphasize that the Macintosh was a professional, advanced “super microcomputer.”

In short:
“Apple 32 SuperMicros” = early European branding highlighting the Macintosh as a powerful 32-bit professional computer.

>> Why it appears on this box:
This marking was commonly printed on locally distributed retail boxes in Belgium and the Netherlands.
It helps date the box to the early Macintosh era (circa 1984–1986). It confirms the box was intended for the European market, making it especially interesting for collectors.

>> Why collectors care:
It’s a period-correct detail that ties the item directly to the launch years of the Macintosh.
Such regional branding variations are increasingly rare.
It adds historical authenticity and regional significance to the set.

// Why this is a magical Christmas collectible
MacWrite and MacPaint were the first programs most Macintosh users ever touched — introducing WYSIWYG word processing, mouse-driven drawing, and the now-iconic Mac interface. These applications defined an era and helped change personal computing forever.

Finding a set like this — complete, tested, multilingual, with sealed media and original documentation — is increasingly rare.

// Perfect for:
– Vintage Apple & Macintosh collectors;
– Retro-computing enthusiasts;
– Museums or educational collections;
– A truly unique Christmas gift for a Mac fan.

This is a warm slice of Macintosh nostalgia — carefully preserved, professionally tested, and ready to bring joy to its next owner.

Will be shipped securely and with care — ready for the holidays.
Happy bidding, and Merry Christmas!

Seller's Story

Vintage "Macintosh Restorer" & "Apple Passionista". Because not everything is replaceable!

Details

Brand
Apple
Series/ Model
Macintosh "MacWrite/MacPaint" Software Box (Mid-1980s)
Year of Manufacture
1984
Condition
Very good
In working order
Yes
BelgiumVerified
687
Objects sold
97.56%
pro

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