A literary treasure reveals the craft behind bestselling fiction.
LONDON, United Kingdom. A vintage typewriter belonging to celebrated British novelist Jilly Cooper will be auctioned at Christie’s on December 9, with an estimated value of £5,000 to £8,000. The Olivetti Underwood Lettera 32, affectionately named Monica 2, offers collectors a rare connection to the creative process behind one of Britain’s most successful popular fiction writers.
Dating from approximately 1964, the machine was discovered at Cooper’s Gloucestershire residence, The Chantry, following her death in October 2025 at the age of 88. Although primarily used as a backup, it played an important role in her writing routine, particularly when her preferred typewriter required repairs.
Cooper used Monica 2 in a garden gazebo to write Jump!, her 2010 novel set in the fictional world of Rutshire. Her working methods remained remarkably traditional throughout her career: she composed manuscripts on typewriters, revised passages by attaching newly typed sections to earlier drafts and relied on assistants to prepare subsequent versions.
The author became internationally recognized for novels exploring romance, social relationships and the lives of Britain’s wealthy elite. Her bestselling works include Riders and Rivals, with more than 11 million copies of her books sold in the United Kingdom.
The auction, titled Love & Lust: A Literary Guide, will feature approximately 30 literary and cultural objects associated with romance and desire. Other items include letters, manuscripts and artifacts connected to prominent historical figures such as Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Lady Hamilton.
Christie’s has scheduled the sale alongside renewed interest in Cooper’s work following the television adaptation of Rivals on Disney+.
The typewriter’s estimated price reflects its literary provenance rather than its mechanical value. The figure is an auction estimate, not a confirmed sale price, and the final amount will depend on bidding.
For collectors, Monica 2 represents a tangible connection to an influential literary career. Beyond its monetary value, the machine illustrates how a relatively simple writing instrument helped produce stories that reached millions of readers.
Behind Every Object, a Deeper Story.