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A number of years ago my grandmother gave me this violin. Her father, my great grandfather, was a instrument repairman. I can remember seeing violins, guitars, and other strings hanging from the basement ceiling. We are not sure if someone gifted this violin to him or just forgot to pick it up.

When Nana gave it to me, I proudly displayed it on an end table and enjoyed it’s beauty for about a year before noticing a stamp on the inside which read Stradivari. Good Gravy!! It was a Stradivarius, I had hit the jack pot.

I figured it would auction for millions of dollars, the few other remaining masterpieces had sold for around 4 million apiece. I immediately removed from the table, packed it in bubble wrap and put it a safe place before contacting the famous NY auction house, Sotheby's. They asked me to send photos, describe and measure it. After which, I promptly received a letter stating it was an recreation of a Stradivarius and was valued at thousand dollars or so. I’ll hang on to it as it’s worth millions of memories and one good laugh to me.