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1882 Caligraph 2 Serial # 5899 1882 Caligraph 2 typewriter, Serial # 5899 Vincent DeVito's 1882 Caligraph 2 typewriter. 2026-09-15 From the Virtual Typewriter Collection of Vincent DeVito: 1882 Caligraph 2 Serial # 5899 This is a very interesting early serial Caligraph No. 2 that comes the collection of the late Bob Aubert. I purchased this in Allentown, PA, in September 2026. At the time of adding, it is the second oldest in the database, but auction records I found from Germany in 2019 and 2022 indicate there are at least 3 existing machines older than it aside from the one in Martin Howard's collection (#5592). These are serials #4467, #4702, #5746. Interestingly, two of these break the existing notion that serial numbers for the Caligraph No. 2 started in the 5000s following the Caligraph No. 1. I intend to do more research on this front, as we might be able to expand the known serial range for this historic model!
As far as condition, it's fair and there's evidence of clean up and repair work throughout. It's mechanically intact and functions well enough to get a type sample, but the type levers weren't resintalled very neatly so there is a lot of binding in the type basket. Additionally, Bob's brother, who I purchased this from, told me Bob replaced all the key legends and, if I had to guess, the key rings as well. Finally, a small, but interesting quirk is that this machine has a '/' where the '';' would normally be.

1882 Caligraph 2 #5899

Status: My Collection
Hunter: Vincent DeVito (VHDeVito)
Created: 09-14-2026 at 10:37PM
Last Edit: 09-15-2026 at 12:40AM

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Description:

This is a very interesting early serial Caligraph No. 2 that comes the collection of the late Bob Aubert. I purchased this in Allentown, PA, in September 2026. At the time of adding, it is the second oldest in the database, but auction records I found from Germany in 2019 and 2022 indicate there are at least 3 existing machines older than it aside from the one in Martin Howard's collection (#5592). These are serials #4467, #4702, #5746. Interestingly, two of these break the existing notion that serial numbers for the Caligraph No. 2 started in the 5000s following the Caligraph No. 1. I intend to do more research on this front, as we might be able to expand the known serial range for this historic model!
As far as condition, it's fair and there's evidence of clean up and repair work throughout. It's mechanically intact and functions well enough to get a type sample, but the type levers weren't resintalled very neatly so there is a lot of binding in the type basket. Additionally, Bob's brother, who I purchased this from, told me Bob replaced all the key legends and, if I had to guess, the key rings as well. Finally, a small, but interesting quirk is that this machine has a '/' where the '';' would normally be.

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Hunter: Vincent DeVito (VHDeVito)

Vincent DeVito's Typewriter Galleries [ My Collection ] [ My Sightings ]

Status: Typewriter Hunter
Points: 9

Burgeoning collector and hobby repairer with an interest in unusual designs and interesting history. My original focus was collecting and troubleshooting Selectrics, but I've been shifting to antique machine collecting as well. I prefer all my machines to operational, at least to a degree...


RESEARCH NOTE: When researching the Caligraph 2 on a computer with lots of screen real estate, you may find that launching the Caligraph Serial Number page and the Caligraph 2 By Model/Year/Serial page in new browser windows can give you interesting perspectives on changes throughout the model series.

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