The first packet sent via RFC1149 avian carrier is up for auction at Christie's
The physical IP packet sent via carrier pigeon under RFC 1149 is currently up for auction at Christie's.
summary is enough The auction page text is unavailable, but the thread provides entertaining context on this piece of internet history.
summary
The physical paper packet transported by a pigeon during the famous RFC 1149 IP over Avian Carriers experiment is being auctioned by Christie's. Since the direct article content is inaccessible, understanding depends on the thread, which notes the item is signed by the RFC author. Commenters discuss its status as a collector's item and debate when the early internet era actually ended.
key points
- The auction lot includes the actual paper packet flown by a pigeon, signed by the RFC 1149 author.
- RFC 1149 was a famous April Fools' Day standard published in 1990 detailing IP transmission via avian carriers.
- Commenters debate whether 2001 qualifies as part of the early internet community.
who should read it
Internet historians and network engineers interested in technical ephemera.
discussion positive
consensus
Commenters find the auction amusing and clarify that the high price reflects its value as a signed piece of internet history rather than just a printed frame.
pushback
A few commenters object to the auction description labeling 2001 as the early internet community, noting commercialization was already mature.
It’s the literal piece of paper that was transported by the pigeon and it’s signed by the author of RFC 1149. A little piece of Internet history ephemera.
Clarifies that the lot contains the literal piece of paper flown by the pigeon and signed by the RFC author.
Generated by an LLM from the article and thread. Check the sources before relying on it.