An extract from a press cutting discussing the origin of the production of violins in England which took place during the 17th century. The first maker of violins in England is noted to be Jacob Rayman. The article also discusses features of two violins which had been recently acquired, “the oldest Strad violin that has yet been seen dates from 1669”. The condition of the violin is described as “good” however it is noted that there is an “absence of the varnish”. The second find described in the extract is a “Joanna Baptista Guadagnini, Turin”. The physical condition of the instrument is “surprisingly good” despite the author of this article noting that the instrument was discarded by its owner “string-less, and covered in dust and dirt”, but it is also considered “… amazingly sound … retaining its head and neck … and only having a few cracks in the upper table”. The violin was confirmed to be “a genuine Guadagnini of considerable value” by Messrs. Hill and Son and an unnamed correspondent noted that the violin was the first of Italian origin that he had ever seen in thirty years. Messrs Hill, also noted that “they had never heard of a similar find” in all of their experience.
