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["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

While the story/ad sounds like hype, there are some things not mentioned that really could make the Bardsey apple unusual.  First, is the old tree a seedling or was it asexually propagated?  I say it that way because it wasn't that rare to layer an apple tree, or even start it from root cuttings of a seedling, in addition to the possibility of being grafted.  That one tree could have been a lone survivor of a group of them.
Next is it's long term survival in a pretty trying environment, with wind, salt, and very cool, moist temperatures, even if it was sheltered by a building.  Also the tests in other areas indicated it was resistant to disease.  
And there may be some historical significance to where it was growing that would make it attractive to UK gardeners.  The people there have an attachment to such things.  I was sent photos of the original seedling Bramley apple, which is protected and marked with a plack.  A number of other such apples are similarly preserved in England.    
Hype?  Maybe.  But the circumstances suggest the Bardsey IS an unusual tree.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003. 
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On Dec 29, 2007, at 3:31 PM, Steve wrote:

Alan Haigh wrote:
> That's pretty hilarious, "one of the worlds rarest apples", as if 
> that's an accomplishment for an apple.  I can show you hundreds of 
> rarer types of apples, so rare they haven't even been named.  I just 
> call them seedlings but if I name one it will be as rare as any apple 
> tree in the history of appledom.  Talk about marketing.

That's about what I was thinking. There must be a million seedlings that 
are one of a kind. As soon as someone takes a scion and grafts a 2nd 
tree, then that one isn't even tied with all the others as one of the 
rarest. After a few thousand, it's downright common.