W. E. Hill

This book we dedicate to the memory of our father William Ebsworth Hill to whose example we are indebted beyond acknowledgment

The idea of writing this book is in some measure due to the intelligent initiative of Signor Mandelli, of Cremona, to whom, as well as to our friends and subscribers, we owe some words of explanation and apology. Full of the desire to obtain fresh information concerning Antonio Stradivari, Signor Mandelli determined to make further researches in the archives of his native city, and thus add to the world's knowledge; and, his material collected, he approached us in the year 1890 with a view to its publication in English and Italian. The subject of Stradivari was an alluring one, and in a moment of enthusiasm we undertook the task of incorporating these interesting researches in a work more fully embracing the results of the master's career. Reflection, however, showed us that we had undertaken a task the labour of which we had underestimated ; and time sped on, year succeeded year, only to find us still adding to our notes, yet unable-nay, unwilling-to prematurely publish that which we felt to be still incomplete. If we have thus long delayed the publication of this work, owing to the daily cares of our business absorbing so much of our time and energy, we trust that our readers will obtain some slight compensation both from the more correct information given and the broader treatment of our subject.

We decided to divide our work into twelve distinct chapters, and we believe that by this division the whole will have gained in clearness.

Our illustrations will prove, we hope, both interesting and instructive.

The instruments shown are selected from amongst the finest existing works of Stradivari, and each example is characteristic of the type it portrays. We cannot too warmly express our sense of obligation to Mr. Shirley Slocombe for his admirable drawings of the instruments ; and to Mr. Nister, of Nuremberg, for the time and patience he has expended on their reproduction by chromolithography. Time after time has he gone over these plates ; and though we do not claim that perfection has been reached, we believe it will be admitted that Mr. Nister has surpassed all previous efforts in this direction. We have to thank our friends and colleagues at home and abroad for aid and assistance in our researches. (Note: the illustrations in this internet edition include most of those in the Hills' book, but also many other photos from internet sources, and a variety of scans from out-of-print books.)

More especially we would wish to mention Mr. George Hart, the late M. Gand and M. Silvestre of Paris, and Signor Commendatore Lozzi of Rome. To the Marquis dalla Valle we are under an exceptional debt of gratitude for having freely accorded us access to his unique collection of Stradivari relics. The encouragement and advice ungrudgingly given to us at all times by Sir William and Lady Huggins have been of inestimable value ; nor can we sufficiently acknowledge in words the friendship Lady Huggins has honoured us with in reading and advising upon the manuscript of our book. In conclusion, we venture to hope that the sincerity of our work will bring us that support which stimulates fresh undertakings.

Much of absorbing interest to violin lovers yet remains to be written.

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