{"product_id":"olivetti-lettera-22-blue","title":"Olivetti Lettera 22   Blue .","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-(--sticky-padding-top)\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"LR5Y_W_content markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eOlivetti Lettera 22 — Blue\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn Italian design icon in an extraordinarily well-preserved original case.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere are vintage typewriters, and then there are \u003cstrong\u003edesign objects\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Olivetti Lettera 22 belongs firmly in the second category.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eDesigned in Italy by \u003cstrong\u003eMarcello Nizzoli\u003c\/strong\u003e with engineering by Giuseppe Beccio, the Lettera 22 was introduced in 1950 and became one of Olivetti's most celebrated products. Its compact form was revolutionary for the time: the body, carriage, keyboard and mechanisms were integrated into a remarkably small package without sacrificing the functionality of a real typewriter. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAnd the design wasn't merely admired—it was \u003cstrong\u003eofficially recognized as exceptional design\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Lettera 22 won Italy's prestigious \u003cstrong\u003eCompasso d'Oro in 1954\u003c\/strong\u003e, entered the permanent design collection of New York's \u003cstrong\u003eMuseum of Modern Art\u003c\/strong\u003e, and in 1959 was selected by the Illinois Institute of Technology as the best-designed product of the previous 100 years. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThat's a remarkable résumé for a typewriter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eAnd this one is blue.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe blue enamel is quintessential Olivetti: sophisticated, modern and distinctly Italian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eOlivetti offered the Lettera 22 in several colors. Its first-generation machines included \u003cstrong\u003eblue, green, pink and beige\u003c\/strong\u003e, while later versions expanded the palette. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThis particular blue has a wonderfully fresh appearance, and the combination of the blue body, charcoal-colored keys and single red accent key is exactly the sort of restrained visual design that made Olivetti famous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eBut there's another detail we find particularly remarkable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eLook at the case.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe original case is exceptionally well preserved.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eLettera 22 machines were sold with carrying cases designed to make the little typewriter genuinely portable. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFinding a Lettera 22 in beautiful condition is one thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eFinding one with an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal case that has survived in this condition\u003c\/strong\u003e is another.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe case on this machine is remarkably clean and intact, with its original light-blue exterior and contrasting dark center strap. After all these decades, it still looks like it belongs with the machine—and that's a detail collectors will appreciate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eA typewriter that became a design icon.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Lettera 22 wasn't created by treating a typewriter as a machine and then decorating it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eNizzoli essentially \u003cstrong\u003edesigned the entire object around portability\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe carriage is integrated into the body. The platen barely protrudes beyond the case. The return lever folds neatly into the overall form. Even the keyboard becomes part of the sculptural shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe result is extraordinarily compact—about \u003cstrong\u003e3.7 kg (8 pounds)\u003c\/strong\u003e—while retaining a full mechanical writing mechanism. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAnd the mechanism itself is beautifully engineered. One museum description notes that the design reduced the internal mechanism to approximately \u003cstrong\u003e240 components\u003c\/strong\u003e, an impressive degree of mechanical simplification for a typewriter of its era. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"auto\"\u003eWriters loved them.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThe Lettera 22 became a favorite working companion of Italian writers and journalists. Olivetti's own historical archive specifically names journalists \u003cstrong\u003eIndro Montanelli and Enzo Biagi\u003c\/strong\u003e, who used their Lettera 22 machines as traveling companions even after electronic writing began to arrive. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eAnd you can understand why.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003eThere's something completely different about writing on one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"auto\" class=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eComes with original, soft shell zip case, and a printed copy of the original owner's manual.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"auto\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis machine has been fully serviced, and tested - ready for use right out of the box. No refurbishment needed, it looked like it may never have been used!  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Frivolous Dry Goods","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48986730758398,"sku":null,"price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0692\/4767\/files\/OlivettiLettera22topside1.jpg?v=1789688793","url":"https:\/\/paperseahorse.com\/products\/olivetti-lettera-22-blue","provider":"The Paper Seahorse","version":"1.0","type":"link"}