A version of the Malling-Hansen ‘writing ball’, the first commercially produced typewriter, sold by Auction Team Breker in Cologne for €100,000 (£87,000).
An example of the first commercial ly produced typewriter – one of only five in private hands – has sold for €100,000 at auction in Germany, writes Roland Arkell.
There was not one single inventor of the typewriter and many experimental models were built and used during the 18th and 19th century. However the first made in any quantity is deemed that designed by the Danish pastor Rev Rasmus Malling-Hansen (1835-90).