Built roughly in the mid 1850’s, (previous appraisal has estimated 1855), this amazing piece of history is a Martin 2-21. The archaic 2 series, developed by Martin originally as a “ladies guitar”, was similar in size to an 0, but smaller, at a mere 12 to 12.5” across at the lower bout.

Built from Adirondack spruce and Brazilian rosewood, along with a mahogany neck, the 21 style from this time period featured a wooden herringbone rosette, surrounded on either side by ebony rings, and the body was bound in a simpler style, featuring just a little bit of extra purfling on either side of the binding proper. An ebony fretboard and bridge, as well as a Brazilian headstock overlay round this antique beauty out, as well as some of the first years of Martin’s foray into mechanical tuners, as opposed to the friction pegs that were present merely a decade before.

With a wide 1 13/16ths nut and 1 7/32nds bridge spacing, set on a fairly thin but vintage feeling V neck, strung up with Silk and Steel strings, this old beauty has an old but present sound, much louder than you’d expect, with a surprising evenness of tone for a size smaller than anything Martin makes today.

Repaired cracks on the top, back, all stable. Plenty of saddle left, action remarkable for a 170 year old guitar.

Comes, remarkably, with the original wood coffin case, which was reupholstered probably in the 1960’s.