Jose Do Espirito SANTO UKULELE circa 1890's RARE

EXTREMELY RARE AND WORLD CLASS COLLECTABLE UKULELE WITH  ORIGINAL FINISH.  OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND MADE BY ONE OF THE THREE PORTUGESE UKULELE MAKERS WHO FIRST CAME TO HAWAII AND INVENTED THE UKULELE.  TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS AT MOST A HANDFUL OF SURVIVING UKULELES MADE BY JOSE SANTO.

Jose Do Espiirito came over with the second group of Portugese immigrants to Hawaii in late August 1879 on the boat named "Ravenscraig".  You can see a similiar uke probably newer than this one by checking out the Hawaii Bishop Museum artifact site at http://www2.bishopmuseum.org/ethnologydb/detailed.asp?ARTNO=1969.067.004

The label on their has his shops King Street address while the label on this uke, pretty faded and hard to read does not making me think this is probably one of his earlist ukuleles.   For  those who the pictures are not so clear here is what the label reads as best as I can see.

                                                                                  Address

Jose Do Epirito Santo

Guitar Maker

Violins and guitars repaired

reasonable rates

HONOLULU HI

Here is a state archive of another of his labels from 1881889

Half-page advertisement of Jose do Espirito Santo (Honolulu City Directory,
1888-89. Hawai'i State Archives)

THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING COLLECTORS PIECE. ALL ORIGINAL FINISH AND NO SEPERATIONS OR CRACKS THAT SEEM TO GO THRU THE BODY.  THERE IS A SMALL TIGHT LINE AT THE  CENTER OF THE FINGERBOARD RUNNING AT THE ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH FRET.  THERE IS A SCRATCH ON THE SIDE BUT IS NOT A CRACK AND ALSO SEEMS TO BE A TIGHT HAIRLINE ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THAT I FOUND WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS BUT YOU MAY NOT EVEN SEE IT AND IT CANNOT PHOTOGRAPH.  ON THE LEFT OF THE BRIDGE THERE SEEMS TO BE THE BEGINNINGS OF A HAIRLINE ABOUT 1-1/4" LONG BUT IT IS TIGHT AND STABLE.  tHIS WOLRD CLASS COLLECTABLE HAS WONDERFUL LOUD TONE BUT I  HAVEN'T REALLY TAKEN IT UP TO PITCH TO OFTEN AS IT REALLY SHOULD BE DISPLAYED AND NOT PLAYED. THE BRIDGE LOOKS TO HAVE BEEN REGLUED AND ITS SEEMS TO BE SHARP IN INTONATION BUT A UKULELE OF THIS HISTORICAL AND RARE PROVEDENCE IS REALLY NOT MEANT TO BE PLAYED.  I HAVE TRIED TO BE AS ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE ON MY DESCRIPTION AND WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.  ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF ANY SECTION CAN BE OBTAINED BY PROVIDING ME WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS.  Here are the spec:

• Koa wood
• 21-3/4" length
• 4-1/2" upper bout
• 3-1/4" waist
• 5-3/4" lower bout
• 1-3/4" to 1-5/8" deppth
• 13-11/16" nut to saddle
12 frets
• 1-3/8" at nut
• Original finish
• wooden pegs not original

Buy with confidence as I specialize in selling ukulele and have a perfect 100% feedback.  This instrument will be subject to a 3 day inspection and return for full refund less shipping is acceptable for any reason.

Shipping and handling for this ukulele USPS priority mail insured and registered for full value to anywhere in the USA is 39.95.  All others please email for shipping cost if not indicated.

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