Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-14
sTRaDlVARIUS VIOLlNS.
Tho Market Il Away Up and Constantly
Rfafp~.
Tst james GGzette.l

lst james Gazette.l
The mention of a Stradivarius fiddle has |
always an irresistible fascination for musi- |
cans. professional or amateur: Profes-
sional collectors have secured Europe Tor
them. and probably tho whereabouts or /
every Stradiyarius extant Is known to the
dealers. A considerable proportion OF
them are 10 be found ia England. Antoine
Stradivarius, who was born in lG4f ana
died ni737, worked quietly on for over SIX
ty years of his life. Taking it as moderate
estimate that he turned out one vIohn
week-in those DAYS men worked more
leisurely than they do in this age OF stress
and hurry-wc have total of over 3f0OO Oh
these Instruments from his hands.
OF these how many are in existence TO-
dav? Opinions differ. Mr.. hatcheZ re-
Gently put the number at eighty. MI HUI,
tine woll-knOwn cCRuOsSe'v, believes that
there are no fewer than thousand OF these
yiolins still left. The rise in their value mas
in recent times been enormous. twenty OF
thirty years ago Strad IN good cohul-
ton might have been acquired IN the open
market at prices ranging from +5OV 20 1oOU'
Now the case is altered. An lnstru-
ment of the makers better period IN
fair state OF preservation could not be had
probablv for Gi.000. whereas Tor tho nnest
specimens extant extraordinary prices are
demanded. The largest sum actually pald
for Strad" il. we believe, g 400. Inc
next highest is 81 200. which was paid Tor
the violin chosen from the collection OF ii.
Iabittc. Of Paris. for the jubilee presenta-
tiou last year to DR.. Joachim by his Eng
lish admirers. BY this gift Dr. joachim
became the happy pOssessor OF three Strahl-
varius fiddles. Who So fitted to own them
rs the greatest yiolin-player OF the age
Mr.. Sarasate Possesses. II Is understood,
two instruments 10y the same maker. Doth
Of great value. while several other OF ouE
leading vi0linists are almost equally biess-
ed
There is now in the market another mag
nificont Stradivarius in a most perfect
state OF preservation. u may at present
bs seen al Mr.. Hills. i'm New Bond street.
OF IL. authenticity there appears 10 ne no
doubt. It was bought in 1924 IN Italy Tor
.c2J by au Irish gentleman, VINO took n
homo and th IN seems to have forgotten az
about H. At any rate. it was lost @ight OF
| tin 1875. when (mOst OF these m
strumcnts have their romance 1t narrowly
ESCAPED destruction IN a tire. 1t WA
/ discovered among the Chatteis reecucd
| from the burning house, and subsequently
| met with all the honols IL deserved. 10
/ il, i0uo period Of opecuritv Its admirable
state of preservation-it is without nav OIL
any kud-s, OF course. due. Inc Signt OF
Z in now. ~ IL repOsc- beneath rs glass case
/ illuminated al night by the electric light,
must stir the heart OF the cOnno.SFeW,
! Buf II can only pass into the possession ~
/ a mau0f ample means or an enthusiast ~
Z the first order. vino would deem no sacri-
/ fee TOO great Co become It's owner III"
/ price asked for it is t2Go0.
The sum appears enormous, II Is true,
/ hut even larger prices have been heard ~.
The Joachim Jubilee committee were, li j.
said. asked c2,5G0 Tor "Strad w whiG n