Books on the Violin   N - Z                             Books A-G                  Books H-M

[000224] Carlo Nardi. The Violinmaker Cesare Candi and Paganini's Violin (1948). Cremona: Cremona Books, 2005. 2.. 8vo,
Trade Paperback. As New 70pp; 15 Illustrations. memoir by the restorer of Paganini’s ‘Cannon’ violin.      £22.00

[000302] Niederheitmann, Friedrich. Cremona. Buren: Knuf, 1986. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Hard Cover. Fine An Account of the Italian Violin-Makers and Their Instruments; Translated from the original by W. H. Quarrell, M. A. 16 + 96 pp; Brief history of violin making plus alphabetical listing of both major and minor makers. Book is hardcover without a dust jacket. Clean and tight and in very good condition.  £15.00

[000192] Nilsson, Bengt. Svensk Fiolbyggar Konst - Swedish Violin Making during the 18th. Century Until About 1865 . 
Malmö: 1988. First Edition. 4to, Pictorial Cover.  66 pp; b/w and 19 full plate col. ill.; text in Swedish and English; 
very interesting book on old Swedish makers - fine photos of violins, violas, celli and makers labels. The text gives details about the makers lives and place of work. Condition: very good - light crease to lower corners.     £30.00

[000272] Otto, Jacob Augustus. A Treatise on the Structure and Preservation of the Violin. London: Reeves, 4. Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Original Cloth. Good Further Enlarged. Translated From the Original, with Additions and Illustrations by John Bishop. 6 + 95 pp; 3 plates, 10 ill.; some splits to page gatherings; cover sl. bumped, discoloured; On the construction of the violin and other bow-instruments, account on the most eminent German makers., notice on the most esteemed Italian and Steiner's violins., of the repair; preservation, and method of bringing out the tone of instruments. VI appendix. Last part of the book are announcements, history, biography etc. With index  £15.00    NEW

[000268] Petherick, Horace. The Repairing and Restoration of Violins. London: Strad, 1903. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Cloth. Very Good Hardback, 199 + 12 pp; with 38 diagrams. 
Content: 1. Introduction 2. Slight Accidents...3. Minor Repairs...4.Injuries to the Head or Scroll...5.Fracture of Pegbox...6. Neck Grafting...7.Fingerboard, Nut...8.Repairs from the outside...9. Wood for Repairing Lost Parts...Ribs...10.Removing Table...Cleansing Interior...Preserving Original Label....Closing Cracks in Table 11. Getting Parts together that apparently do not fit (sic!) ....Treatment of Warped Tables 12. Removal of old glue...Replacing Blocks...13. ...opening the Back...Studs...Splinters...Matching Wood...14. Repairing lost Portions...Matching the Grain...lost Purfling...15. ...Finishing the Surface 16. Repairing Undertaken by People in Business not connected with that of Bowed Instruments (sic!!!)....fitting a fresh Part of Worm Eaten Rib...17. ...Lining a thin Back....18. The Bar...Fitting, Fixing....Varnish of the Repaired Parts..... light wear to corners;     £40.00  

[000303] Petherick, Horace. Joseph Guarnerius His Work and His Master. London: Strad, 1906. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Cloth. Very Good 8 + 220 + 16 pp; Numerous text illustrations by the author and 40 full-page photographs. An interesting and now controversial account of the life and work of this violin maker, about whose life little was written previously. Dark red cloth boards, faded, very firm and clean pages;  £50.00

[000304] Petherick, Horace. Antonio Stradivari. London: Strad, 1913. Second Edition. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. Cloth. Very Good 8 + 82 pp; + adverts; plates and ill; Dark red cloth boards, faded, very firm and clean pages; owners signature to ffep;  £30.00

[000325] Petherick, Horace. The Repairing and Restoration of Violins. London: Strad, 1998.  Sold

[000351] Peterlongo, Paolo. The Violin: Its Physical and Acoustic Principles. New York: Taplinger, 1979. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Cloth. Fine / Fine. Small 4to, 160pp., 26 b/w ill., 14 colour plates, dark blue cloth, dj price clipped, Foreword by Norbert Brainin, English translation by Bill Hopkins. with protective mylar cover, in fine and crisp condition A valuable book with sections on accoustics, history and notes on violin - making, incl. the illustrated catalogue of the outstanding Peterlongo collection  £30.00 NEW

[000235] Playford, John. Musick's Recreation on the Viol, Lyra-Way, 1682.
London: Hinrichson, 1960. . Hard Cover, artificial Leather. . Very Good / Fair. xiv + 8 + 58pp.; Landscape folio. Portrait, frontis. and music examples in tablature. Facsimile of 1682 publication, with introduction in English and German by Nathalie Dolmetsch. Dark red cover , dj with tears and loss. A fine crisp copy.     £15.00

[000345] Pulver, Jeffrey. Paganini the Romantic Virtuoso. London: Herbert Joseph, 1936. First Edition. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Cloth. Good 328pp; 4 portraits of the violinists, a few light markings to the inside;  £25.00   NEW

[000251] Racster, Olga. Chats on Big and Little Fiddles. London: Laurie, 8vo, Cloth. Good nd. ca. 1920; 7 + 268pp; 20 ill.; foxing and some underlining notes etc.; tear to top of spine; better than just a reading copy though.  £10.00

[000178] Retford, William C.. Bows and Bow Makers. 
London: The Strad, 1964. First Edition. Sold

[000368] Riley, Maurice W.. The History of the Viola. Ann Arbour, 1980. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Soft Cover. Good / No Jacket. 23 + 396pp; 72 illustrations. The first book to deal with the history of the viola from c.1500 to the present - the instrument, the music and outstanding violists. The history of large (tenor) and small (alto) violas, covering the period from c.1500 to c.1800 as well as many photographs, descriptions and dimensions of important violas and material about the 19th-century makers who attempted to ‘improve’ them. Also with accounts of the contributions of Karl and Anton Stamitz, Chrétien Urhan and Paul Hindemith. prev. owners inscr. to front page.  £20.00 NEW

[000349] Sacconi , Simone F. (Hamma, Warren, Wurlitzer - Editors). Sacconi Loan Exhibition Stringed Instruments and Bows. New York: Schuler Verlagsgesellschaft, 1966. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Quarter-Leather. Very Good Commemorating the seventieth birthday of Simone Fernando Sacconi. New York, 1966. Edited by W.Hamma, K.Warren & M.Wurlitzer. Large 4to, 295 by 240 mm.16 + 70 full page b/w plates. Condition: very good, remains of bookplate and inked out prev, owners stamp to inside cover; light wear to corners A fantastic collection of instruments to celebrate the life of Sacconi! Including many classical masterworks from Stradivari, Amati, Bergonzi, Cuypers, Goffriller, Guadagnini, Guarneri, Lupot, Maggini, Montagnana, Panormo, Rombouts, da Salo, Serafin, Tononi and Vuillaume, as well 18 modern master makers instruments and 38 old and modern master bows.  £180.00 NEW

[000371] Sacconi, Simone F. I 'Segreti' Di Stradivari. Cremona: Libreria Del Convegno, 1972. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Hard Cover -artificial Leather. Very Good / Good. lg. 4to., hardback bound in artificial leather, 240 pp, 182 ill. and diagramms and 3 colour plates; dustjacket; Text in Italian. This book could be considered the modern bible of Violin Making and Stradivari in general: the author worked for Wurlitzer, N.Y., examined and restored numerous Stradivaris and put his knowledge into this exemplary work. The almost revolutionary ideas and observations can be used for today's makers of Violins, Violas and Celli. A modern classic! The book in VG condition, dj with tears and markings. £120.00 NEW

[000361] Salabue, Cozio Di. Carteggio. Milano: Cordani, 1950. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Original Cloth. Very Good xxxiv, 515 pp, 9 plates, 28 ill. bown Coth. Very Good. First Edition. Small 4to. Gilt stamping to spine and front cover. 9 plates showing violins by Nicolo Amati (1668), A.Stradivari (1709) and Carlo Bergonzi (1733), as well as facsimiles of letters of Cozio di Salabue. The Italian text contains all the collected papers of Count Cozio di Salabue (1755 - 1840), which was purchased bu G.Fiorini in 1920 from the Counts heirs. A first hand account by the 'first violin collector'. Scarce  £250.00 NEW

[000187] Salzedo, S. L.:  Paganini's Secret at Last.   London: Nicholson & Watson, 1946. 4to, Original Wraps. Good 39 pp; stiff boards, dj with light tears; 
This book was written by an accomplished violinist and admirer of Paganini and offers a novel and interesting theory about Paganini's technique. He claims that it was not witchcraft that was responsible for Paganini's technique. He shows that there is a very rational and practical explanation of his astonishing virtuosity. 
With photographs showing various positions of wrist and hand in fingering.     £20.00

[000239] Senn, Walter & Roy, Karl. Jakob Stainer, Leben und Werk des Tiroler Meisters, 1617-1683. Franfurt Main: Bochinsky, 1986. First Edition. Landscape Folio, 245 x 305mm; 484 pp., b/w ill
An important monograph on the celebrated German maker with 107 original instruments illustrated. Including all the documents and reference material related to Stainer and his works. Text in German, with a summary in English. 
Fine condition, lightly shaken in binding due to heavy size of book. Out of print and scarce.     £150     RARE

[000232] Silverman, William Alexander. The Violin Hunter - the Life Story of Luigi Tarisio the Great Collector of Violins. London: William Reeves, 1964. First Separate. 8vo, Cloth. Fine / Fine. 256 pp., 28 publ. cat.; light blue cloth hardback, fine dj; Foreword by Josef Gingold; This is a well researched book on Tarisio, who single-handedly brought many Cremonese Masterpieces to the European Violin Centres.     £35.00 

[000344] Sotheby's. Musical Instruments Auction 23. Nov. 1988 - The Sam and Rie Bloomfield Foundation: Violins Etc.. London: Sothebys, 1988. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Hard Cover. Very Good 49 pp.;including the associated Library of Books relating to the Violin Family of Musical Instruments and their Players; Sotheby's London 23.Nov. 1988; Very fine catalogue of the famous Bloomfield collection of fine musical instruments and books, comprising 60 lots which included violins by Guarneri del Gesu (2), Jacob Stainer (in original baroque condition!), Lupot (2) Vuillaume, Montagnana as well as several bows by Tourte and Kittel! Fine colour illustrations; A Fiddle for £572.000 ? A bow for £ 79.200 ??? That were some of the prices achieved in this incredible sale....  £40.00  NEW

[000355] Sotheby's. Made for Music: An Exhibition to mark the 40th Anniversary of the Galpin Society for the study of Musical Instruments [Exhibition catalogue]. 11-22 August, 1986.. London: Sothebys, 1986. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Soft Cover. Very Good listing 189 instruments, many b/w photos, bowed, plucked, woodwind, brass, percussion and keyboard instruments.  £10.00 NEW

[000273] Stainer, C.. A Dictionary of Violin Makers. London: Novello, . 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Hard Cover. Good 102 + 10 pp; comprehensive little dictionary covering many schools. board corners wornfront hinge part split; nice and tight otherwise;     £15.00    NEW

[000142] THE STRAD - a Monthly Journal for Professionals and Amateurs of All Stringed Instruments Played with the Bow,
from 1950 onwards
E. Lavender Ed.; Novello, London, original wraps; Many back issues of this important monthly magazine are available. 
The Strad has been published without interruption since 1890 to the present day and provides a wealth of information about the violin family and their players. Many full yearly runs are available (12 issues), starting in the 1950's to present time. Let me have your wants or requirements! Condition generally good and better, might have staple rust, creases, light tears to cover;      
One yearly run:  £30.00  single issues where available:  £4

[000167] THE STRAD - a Monthly Journal for Professionals and Amateurs of All Stringed Instruments Played with the Bow  
35 Issues from the 1945 till 1949
1945 - 8 Vol: Feb(no cover), May, June, July,Sept - Dec;
1946 - 5 Vol: April, July, August, Oct, Nov;
1947 - 1 Vol: Dec;
1948 - 10 Vol: Jan (cover torn) - July, Oct - Dec;
1949 - 11 Vol: Jan, March - Dec; 
35 issues in total, might have staple rust, creases, light tears to cover.
The Strad has been published without interruption since 1890 to the present day and provides a wealth of information about the violin family and their players.  £100.00 or £4 single issue

[000168]  THE STRAD - a Monthly Journal for Professionals and Amateurs of All Stringed Instruments Played with the Bow  
11 Issues from 1923 till 1944
1923 : Aug; Oct; 
1928 : March (rear cover miss.)
1938: July; Sept; Oct; Nov; 
1939: Jan (w. plate)
1944: March; Sept; Nov;
11 issues in total, might have staple rust, creases, light tears to cover.     £30.00 or £4 single issue

[000226] Stresa:  Mostra Di Antonio Stradivari 1963. Cremona: Turris, 1996. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Trade Paperback. As New 4to, 300x220mm, 80pp., 47 b/w plates, text in Italian, English, German and French; Catalogue of an exhibition of fine Stradivari instruments organized by the collector Enrico Costa in Stresa (Palazzo Borromeo - Isola Bella 26.8 - 10.9.1963). £22.00 NEW

[000198] Stresa:  Mostra Di Antonio Stradivari 1963. Stresa: Settimane Musicali Di Stresa, 1963. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Hard Cover. Very Good 4to, 300x220mm, 80pp., 47 b/w plates, dark green faux leather cover; text in Italian, English, German and French; Only 1000 numbered copies of which this is no. 496; Catalogue of an exhibition of fine Stradivari instruments organized by the collector Enrico Costa in Stresa (Palazzo Borromeo - Isola Bella 26.8 - 10.9.1963). Condition: one light tears to lower spine - otherwise fine. Rare. £180.00 NEW RARE

[000090] Szabolcsi, Bence Toth, Aladar. Zenei Lexikon 3 Vol. Sold

[000343] Szigeti. A Violinists Notebook. London: Duckworth, 1964. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Cloth. Fine / Good. lg. 4to , 307 x 230mm, dj price clipped with some wear along the edges, 14 + 161 pp., text in English and German , with 200 music examples. 'In this unique compilation the worldfamous concert violinist collects form the whole range of violin music 200 short passages which he has found to present a particular challenge, technical, stylistic or purely musical. Throughout he seeks to convey to his fellow violinists his own joy in having access to such musical riches and his own zest for further explorations....Much of the value of this book lies int he detail of bowing, fingering and interpretation, especially in the excerpts from modern composers with whom the author has worked personally - such as Ravel, Bartok, Prokoviev and Stravinsky; but every serious violinist, whether advanced or not-so-advanced, will find his insight and love of his art deepened.'  £70.00  NEW

[000088] Tiella, Marco & Zanisi, Tiziano. Contributo Allo Studio Del Restauro Degli Strumenti Musicale.
Cremona : Turris, 1990. 8vo, Original Wraps. Very Good (Contributions to the study of musical instruments conservation) Large 8vo, 148pp., numerous b/w photos and diagrams in text. Forewords in English and German, main body in ITALIAN! 15 articles covering this interesting subject, bibliography and English index.      £30.00   

[000266] Tolbecque, Auguste. L'Art Du Luthier. Niort: Fort - Foucault, 1903. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Half-Leather. As New / . 10 + 314 pp; 100 b/w ill; 6 portraits; 
The rare 1. edition, bound in half leather - no original covers; A very interesting book - in French - on many aspects of violin making, repairing, tools and historical varnish recipes (Piemontais of 1550; Fioravanti 1564; Zahn 1685; Bonanni 1713; Tingry 1803; Watin 1808; Maugin 1834; Rambaux 1845; Wurtz 1878); 
Fine condition though a light crease to the odd page.     RARE    £500.00

[000334] Vannes, Rene. Dictionnaire universel des Luthiers. Brussels: Les Ami De La Musique, 1951.Sold

[000203] Von Schulmann, Otto. Echt Oder Falsch. 
Siegburg: F.Schmitt, 1976. Second Edition. 8vo,  Original Wraps. Fine 78pp; 6 b/w plates of classical Italian violins; Text in German; Ein Beitrag zur Beurteilung Altitalienischer Meistergeigen für Geigenliebhaber.     £15.00

[000201] Wechsberg, Joseph. The ( Glory of the ) Violin. 
London: Arts Book Society, 1973. 8vo, Cloth. Very Good / Very Good. Tall 8vo, 314pp., 8 b/w plates, black cloth, VG; dj; An interesting text on the violin, its makers, legends, stories on stolen violins , varnish and much more. Great fun to read for the beginner and seasoned lover of violins!     £20.00

[000360] Werro, Henry. 'Ole Bull' Joseph Guarnerius Del Gesu 1744. Berne: Werro, Henry, 1971. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Three-Quarter Leather. Fine 51 pp., limited to 400 editions; gilt titles to front, cloth/board slipcase, 2 portraits of Ole Bull, 4 original b/wphotographs of the violin. In German, French and English. Rare monograph on this violin.  £200.00 NEW

[000263] Whone, Adam. Edward Withers Ltd - 230 Years of Violin Craft in Soho. London: Mill Hill Publications, 1996. First Edition. 
As New / Fine. Large 4to.300 x 220mm, hardback, green cloth, dustjacket, 112 pp., many ill. and 16 colour plates of instruments throughout. With a family tree on one endpaper, and a map of Soho on the other. 
The book not only portraits the violin making and dealing firm of Withers, but also portraits the many fine makers associated with it in its historical and cultural context. An important book on this chapter of British Violin Making. Content: Background; Norris & Barnes; Richard & William Davis; John Frederick Lott II; E.Withers I; E. Withers II; George Withers and Sons; E., S.B. & D.S.Withers; E.Stanley Withers; Dietrich Kessler; Adam Whone; Endnote; Letters; Index of Violin Makers and Restorers.     £30.00 

[000180] Wibberley, Leonard. Guarneri - Violin-Maker of Genius.
London: MacDonald and Jane's, 1974. First Thus. 8vo, Hard Cover. Very Good; dj Very Good. 151pp; Fine, bright copy, in gilt-lettered green cloth; Jacket design by Richard Cuffari. Juvenile novel of young orphan Thomas Soli, living in a monastery in 18th century Cremona, whose gift for singing leads him to be apprenticed to master violinmaker, Guarneri del Gesu.     £15.00

[000254] Winram, James. Violin Playing and Violin Adjustment. Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1908. First Edition. 8vo, Original Cloth. Good 10 + 126 pp; 9 b/w photo plates; blue cloth; interesting and uncommon. Condition: slight wear, slackening and foxing.      £30.00   

[000278] Woodcock, Cyril. Dictionary of Contemporary Violin and Bow Makers. Brighton: Amati Publishing, 1965. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Cloth. As New / Very Good. with Dustjacket  10 + 96pp, + 132 b/w plates; this volume can be considered a companion piece to Henley's Universal Dictionary.     £30.00     NEW

[000124]  Wordsworth, W. (Editor), Jaqueline Du Pres: Impressions. 
London: Grafton, 1989. Second Edition. 4to, Cloth. Very Good / Very Good. Edited by William Wordsworth; Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales; 143pp.; many illustrations in text; this book pays tribute to J. du Pres, with contributions amongst others by Dame J.Baker, Lady Barbirolli, Placido Domingo, Zubin Mehta, Yehudi Menuhin, Gerald Moore, William Pleeth, Pinchas Zukerman.  £10.00

[000204] Wunderlich, Friedrich. Der Geigenbogen - Eine Schrift Für Den Fachmann Und Alle Geiger. 
Wiesbaden: J.Schubert, 1952. Second Edition. 8vo, Original Wraps. Very Good 43pp.; + 3 pp. adverts; text in German. condition: Good, light creases, light browning of pages; The author was a good bow maker.     £15.00

[000070] Wurlitzer Rembert. The Henry Hottinger Collection. 
New York: Rembert Wurlitzer Incorporated, 1967. First Edition. 4to, Hard Cover. VG Large 4to, 287 x 225mm, 87 pp. (unnumbered), 40 full page plates, (5 in colour), 285 by 225mm, gilt embossed on spine, linen spine, hardcover. 
Dedication by Heinrich Roth! to H.Böttger on frontpaper - April 1968. This must have been one of the most amazing collection of instruments of the violin ever assembled! From Amatis (3), Stradivaris (13), Guarneris (7), to Ruggeri (2), Bergonzi, Gagliano, Camilli, Montagnana, Guadagnini, Landolfi, Ceruti to Stainer. Bows by Tourte (3), Dodd, Vuillaume, Pecatte, Gand & Bernadel, Tubbs, Lamy, Laberte and Sartory. A rare and very collectable book in VG condition.      £200.00      RARE  

[000322] Wurlitzer Co., Rudolph. Rare Violins Violas Bows of the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries. 1925. New York: Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. , 1925. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Original Wraps. Good 94 pp; 13 colour plates, including Violins by Stradivari Betts 1704 ; Soli 1708; Archinto 1721; Conte D'Armaille 1737; ; Strad Viola 1690; Guarneri del Gesu Violins: Leduc 1743; Doyen 1741; Spanish 1739; Jarnowic 1741; Carlo Bergonzi 1740; N.Lupot 1816; In good condition, spine frayed, binding , gathering loosened in places; All instruments are listed with prices and description. Also listing of strings, Hill cases and accessories, as well as repairs carried out by Wurlitzers.   £95.00 NEW  

[000346] Wurlitzer Co., Rudolph. Rare Violins Violas Bows of the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries. 1925. New York: Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. , 1925. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Original Wraps. Good 94 pp; 13 colour plates, including Violins by Stradivari Betts 1704 ; Soli 1708; Archinto 1721; Conte D'Armaille 1737; ; Strad Viola 1690; Guarneri del Gesu Violins: Leduc 1743; Doyen 1741; Spanish 1739; Jarnowic 1741; Carlo Bergonzi 1740; N.Lupot 1816; In good condition, spine frayed, binding loosenig, part of rear cover missing All instruments are listed with prices and description. Also listing of strings, Hill cases and accessories, as well as repairs carried out by Wurlitzers - all with prices!  £80.00   NEW

[000129] Wynne, Barry - Goosens. Music in the Wind. The Story of Leon Goossens & His Triumph Over a Shattering Accident. 
London: Souvenir Press, 1967. First Edition. 8vo, Hard Cover. Very Good / Good. 8 + 119 pp; dj with some wear and chips; otherwise VG.      £10.00

[000357] Ysaye, Antoine. Ysaye. London: W.E.Hill & Sons, 1980. First Edition. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Quarter-Leather. Very Good Translated by Frank Clarkson, Small 4to, 218 pp. many b/w ill. With a preface by Yehudi Menuhin; Dark red quarter leather, brown cloth; gilt tiltes to front and spine A rare book on this famous Belgian violinist.  £80.00 NEW