By AppleInsider Staff

Published: 01:35 PM EST

iPhone hopefuls at Santa Clara's official Apple retail store were treated to a unique appearance by the company's co-creator, who both led the queue and provided a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.

True to his word, Apple's Steve Wozniak on Friday night was first in line when the Valley Fair outlet opened at 6PM -- choosing to stand in line for hours and buy the iPhone himself rather than wait for the free phone that fellow Apple founder Steve Jobs had promised to deliver on Saturday.

The lineup was for him a "celebration" that merited a visit, regardless of his company privileges. "I love to see the future early," he had said in advance of the release. To him, the phone was to be one of the first truly "human" phones meant for everyday users.

Understandably, the very earliest of Apple employees was greeted with a warm reception by both the store's employees and those who had arrived later to wait for the phone. But while he was treated as a VIP and had helped distribute fan-made T-shirts commemorating the event, Woz was evidently comfortable with the proceedings, mixing with the crowd instead of making the hasty exit associated with a celebrity.

Woz was also mindful of the retail stores' two-phone limit and walked out of the store with no more than those who followed afterwards, despite his ultimate intent to buy phones for all three of his children as soon as possible.