Just the other day another Strings reader wrote inquiring about the value and authenticity of his violin. Like most readers who write to us, trying to eke out information about a mystery fiddle, he carefully transcribed the faded, dusty label visible through the f-hole on the bass side: “Joseph Rocca fecit Premiato di Medaglie alle Esposizione di Torino,Genova,Londra Parigi Taurini anno Domini 1858 IHS.”

Some of the words may be misspelled, he added, as the label is kind of faded.

It often comes as a surprise to learn how unreliable that paper label pasted inside your instrument can be in identifying an instrument’s maker, age, and place of origin. “Labels are as changeable as a pair of shoes,” quips Kerry Keane of Christie’s auction house. Even if the little tag inside your instrument is original, the information printed on it might be accurate but obscure, genuine but inaccurate, misleading, or downright false. A cursory investigation of the aforementioned Rocca label provides an illustration.♣

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