Lot Essay
It is traditionally said that the first owner of this 1947 Martin D-18 was Hank Williams prior to his arrival in Shreveport, Louisiana and for a period while performing on KWKH's Louisiana Hayride in 1948. Mrs. Morelle Williams Henry was present when her father Curly Williams of the Georgia Peach Pickers traded a guitar he owned for Hank Williams' D-18. Curly Williams would go on to perform with the guitar and it remained in his possession until his passing in 1970 when it passed to his daughter.
Unique to this D-18 is the strongly pattern 'bear claw' present in the spruce top as well as the strong longitudinal striations between the winter and summer growth rings. Two images exist that clearly place this guitar with Hank Williams and his band circa 1947 and 1948.
A photograph dated Hank Williams Shreveport La 1948 by Langston McEachern showing Williams in the KWKH studios playing lot 40.
A photograph of Hank Williams and band including his wife Audrey showing lot 40.
According to records of the C.F. Martin Company this guitar, bearing the serial number 98611, was one of a batch of twenty-five D-18s on which production began on January 30, 1947. They included serial numbers 98600 through 98624.
The Martin Company records confirm that a D-18 was shipped to Arts Music in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1947 and Williams is known to have done business with Art's Music.
Sold with a letter, signed by Mrs. Morelle Williams Henry, relating to her and her father's association with Hank Williams and the history of the guitar. Notarized and dated May 26, 2009.
Unique to this D-18 is the strongly pattern 'bear claw' present in the spruce top as well as the strong longitudinal striations between the winter and summer growth rings. Two images exist that clearly place this guitar with Hank Williams and his band circa 1947 and 1948.
A photograph dated Hank Williams Shreveport La 1948 by Langston McEachern showing Williams in the KWKH studios playing lot 40.
A photograph of Hank Williams and band including his wife Audrey showing lot 40.
According to records of the C.F. Martin Company this guitar, bearing the serial number 98611, was one of a batch of twenty-five D-18s on which production began on January 30, 1947. They included serial numbers 98600 through 98624.
The Martin Company records confirm that a D-18 was shipped to Arts Music in Montgomery, Alabama on March 17, 1947 and Williams is known to have done business with Art's Music.
Sold with a letter, signed by Mrs. Morelle Williams Henry, relating to her and her father's association with Hank Williams and the history of the guitar. Notarized and dated May 26, 2009.