Up for sale is a rare and highly collectible piece of early computing history: the IBM Personal Computer Hardware Reference Library: BASIC by Microsoft manual, complete with its original matching slipcase binder box (Part No. 6025010).
This comprehensive reference manual was an essential companion for early adopters and programmers of the revolutionary IBM PC ecosystem. Housed in its classic durable binder with the iconic IBM and Microsoft branding, it provides an authentic window into the dawn of the personal computer revolution.
Condition: Vintage pre-owned condition. The slipcase and binder show minor signs of age-appropriate shelf wear, preserving a genuine, untouched vintage character. The interior pages are clean and intact.
Details: Part numbers 6025010 (slipcase) and 6025013 (manual). A must-have for vintage tech collectors, retro-computing enthusiasts, and IBM or Microsoft memorabilia displays.
Bio of the Maker(s)
IBM (International Business Machines Corporation): Founded in 1911 and headquartered in Armonk, New York, IBM transformed from a manufacturer of commercial scales and tabulating machines into the world's leading technological powerhouse. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, IBM shifted its focus to personal computing to counter the rising microcomputer market, culminating in the launch of the IBM PC in 1981, which established the industry hardware standard for decades.
Microsoft: Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico (later moving to Washington), Microsoft initially focused on developing programming languages. Their partnership with IBM to supply the operating system (PC-DOS) and BASIC interpreter for the original IBM PC catapulted Microsoft into a dominant global software titan.
Historic Information & Interesting Facts
The Genesis of the IBM PC (Project Acorn): In 1980, IBM initiated a top-secret project codenamed "Acorn" in Boca Raton, Florida, to build a low-cost personal computer to compete with Apple and Commodore. Remarkably, they developed the IBM PC (Model 5150) in just about a year by using off-the-shelf components rather than proprietary parts.
The Microsoft Connection: When IBM approached Microsoft for an operating system, Bill Gates famously purchased QDOS (Quick and Dirty Operating System) from another company, modified it, and licensed it to IBM as PC-DOS. Simultaneously, Microsoft supplied Cassette BASIC and Disk BASIC, ensuring that programming languages were immediately accessible to developers right out of the box.
The "Hardware Reference Library" Aesthetic: IBM’s early documentation was meticulously designed to mirror professional reference books, utilizing earth-toned cloth-textured slipcase binders that looked more like high-end encyclopedias than computer manuals. This elevated the personal computer from a hobbyist toy to a serious corporate and professional tool.
