Hi all:

On the outside chance that this might give the end of a thread on which I might pull:

Reading this morning, once again, Denzil Wraight’s inventory of all the surviving harpsichords which currently have, or probably once upon a time had more than 12 notes per octave, I noticed that in one attribution (an instrument attributed to Boni, but that’s not what I’m interested-in just now) to the collection of instruments in Rome. As this reference:  "Collezione degli Strumenti Musicali, Rome, no. 2826.” 

What I’m wondering is, first, if anyone knows of any other collections which used four-digit inventory numbers like this. And, secondly, if anyone knows how to learn about the history of the four-digit-inventory-numbers of acquisitions (or DE-acquisitions as well) from the history of the Rome collection or that of any of those other collections using this inventory system.

I have bumped into an instrument painted with an older stencilled four-digit inventory number just like this, in a private collection (and scrawled repetitions of the same inventory number in chalk or grease-pencil on two of the outside front surfaces), and I am now wondering if its number could just possibly be tracked down back to say the 19th or earlyish 20th century. It would be nice to know something of the provenance, and perhaps this might be a clue.

Any help will be deeply appreciated.

Owen


____________________________________


Owen Daly Early Keyboard Instruments
557 Statesman St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
http://www.dalyharpsichords.com
(503)-362-9396


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