Desirable unissued specimen stock certificate for the Microsoft Corporation, one page, 12 x 8, circa 1990, featuring the pre-printed facsimile signature of company president Jon Shirley. Bill Gates recruited Shirley to join Microsoft as president, chief operating officer, and director in 1983, and his tenure lasted until 1990. In that time he guided Microsoft through its 1986 initial public offering, and engineered the financial and managerial infrastructure that drove the company's massive success. Although Microsoft was the clear winner of the 1990s 'personal computer wars,' Apple has pulled ahead in recent years-with a $2.95T market cap compared to Microsoft's $2.46T. In fine condition.
