RARE MATTHIAS ALBANUS FULL SIZE VIOLIN 1698 Start Price USD 4,200.00 Current Price USD 4,200.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, November 19, 2008 End Time Saturday, November 29, 2008 Location Pine Brook,N.J. See more about 'RARE MATTHIAS ALBANUS FULL SIZE VIOLIN 1698' Description THE LABEL INSIDE READS : "MATTHIAS ALBANUS FECIT IN TYROLI BULFANI 1698 " . THIS VIOLIN IS OVER THREE HUNDRED YEARS OLD , AND IT IS IN A EXCELLENT CONDITION . THE FIRST VIOLINIST IN THE PHILADELPHIA SYMPHONY ORCHEASTRA OWNED IT AND PLAYED ON IT FROM 1930's-1950's . I BOOUGHT IT FROM HIS SON IN 1996 . THERE WAS NO REPAIR ON IT IN THE 20th. CENTURY ,EXCEPT CLEANING AND POLISHING .THE NECK IS GRAFTED , THE PEG HOLE BUSHING ON THE RIGHT SIDE THE TOP , ON THE LEFT SIDE THE TOP AND BOTTOM . AT THE LOCATION OF THE PIN BLOCK THERE IS A SMALL INSERT IS BUILT IN approx. 1/4 " WIDE . ON THE TOP A SMALL WELL REPAIRED CRACK , ON THE BOTTOM SOME WEARING ON THE VARNISH , MOST OF IT ORIGINAL ,IT IS NICELY POLISHED .THE SOUND IS JUST BEAUTIFUL ,CLEAR AND VIVID , CAN BE HEARD FROM FAR AWAY . THE BOTTOM IS LINED UP WITH 4 PINS . THE TOP IS FINELY GRAINED SPRUCE , THE BOTTOM IS NICELY WAVED MAPLE . THE NECK AND RIBS ARE MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL .SET UP WITH THE  BEST QUALITY " PIRASTRO   EVAH" STRINGS AND READY FOR PLAY .LENGHT OF THE BODY : 14" and 8 " WIDE . THIS INSTRUMENT IN SUCH A GOOD CONDITION IS A RARE FIND AND THE VALUE OF IT WILL INCREASE WITH TIME . THE ASKING PRICE IS MUCH LOWER THAN ITS VALUE .  IN  1996  A   LUTHER  WHO  WAS  A  EXPERT  IN  ANTIQUE  VIOLINS   INSPECT  IT  THE  VIOLIN  AND  ESTIMATED  IT'S  VALUE  FOR  $ 26,000.00 , IN  1998   IT  WAS  ALSO  INSPECTED  BY  A  LUTHER  WHO  WAS  A  EXPERT  WITH  ANTIQUE  INSTRUMENTS .  IN  2007  ANOTHER  EXPERT  LUTHER  BELLIEVES  THAT  THE  VIOLIN  WAS  MADE  BY  ALBANY , SHIP IT IN A NICE ALLIGATOR SKIN CASE AND PUT IN A STRONG BOX .THANK YOU FOR BIDDING AND GOOD LUCK . Place a Bid!