AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, D-45

Details

C.F. MARTIN & CO., NAZARETH, PENNSYLVANIA, 1939
AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, D-45
Bearing the logo C.F. Martin & Co. / EST. 1833 at the headstock, stamped internally C.F. Martin & Co. Nazareth, PA. and stamped D-45⁄73129, with spruce top, Brazilian rosewood two-piece back and sides, mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerboard and bridge, Brazilian rosewood headstock and abalone inlays, together with original hardshell case
Length of back: 20 in. (50.8 cm.)
Overall length: 40 3⁄16 in. (102.1 cm.)

Provenance

Acquired from Gruhn Guitars, 2013.

Sale room notice

Please note that this lot is made from or contains Brazilian Rosewood, which is a protected and regulated species, and will be restricted for purchase to bidders residing in the United States. For more information on lots made of or including endangered and other protected species of wildlife, please see our Conditions of Sale. If you plan to collect this lot in-person, you may be responsible for applicable New York taxes.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

The Jim Irsay Collection General Enquires

IrsayCollection@christies.com

Lot Essay

Following the official introduction of Martin’s Dreadnought guitars in 1931, the first D-45 made in the Martin workshops was a single instrument in 1933. Owing to the high cost to consumers there was a limited production of the D-45 prior to World War II. By 1942 C.F. Martin had produced only a total of ninety-one D-45s. The beauty of workmanship and scarcity of these highly decorated Pre-War dreadnoughts make them the most coveted Martin guitars in today’s vintage collectable market.

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