- 2 Frassetto Way - Lincoln Park, NJ 07035
The Peter Benchley Collection: Jaws, A Life of Writing, A Legacy of Ocean Conservation.
Lot 91:
Description
IBM Correcting Selectric III electric typewriter formerly owned by American author Peter Benchley (1940-2006). The machine features a textured blue plastic housing and a wide carriage designed for professional use. It utilizes the signature Selectric typeball mechanism, which replaced individual typebars with a rotating sphere. Included is a Bookface Academic 96 10-pitch typeball and the original black-and-white printed operating instructions manual. The unit retains its original black power cord. Marked on the front badge IBM Correcting Selectric III. Marked on the rear IBM. 7" H x 23" W x 16" D.
The workhorses of Peter’s later career. These IBM Selectric III came into his office in the 1980s, and carried the novels The Girl of the Sea of Cortez, Beast and White Shark, most of his National Geographic articles, his screenplays and a steady stream of letters to fans and friends. The blue machine was his primary typewriter and the tan one his backup. Peter’s younger brother, Nat Benchley, remembers them side by side on his desk. The tan Selectric (Lot 90) was exhibited at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, in 2025, in “From the White House to the Deep Ocean: LBJ, Jaws and Conservation.”
From the personal collection of Peter Benchley (American, 1940–2006), acclaimed author of Jaws, accomplished diver, and prominent advocate for ocean and shark conservation.
Condition report:
The typewriter is in good vintage cosmetic condition. Scuff marks and surface scratches are present on the front lower-left area of the blue housing. Minor corner wear and light scuffing are visible along the top edges of the casing. The power cord shows surface grime. The operating manual exhibits light shelf wear and curling at the edges. The machine has not been tested for mechanical functionality or electrical safety.
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