I'm trying to get information on a violin.
The label inside says "gaetano 1829 (or 1859-it's slightly smudged)
inaccia 
napoli rua catalana
#46 (or #96 again slightly smudged)
The label was read off to me, The order I have the words in may be incorrect.
Thank you

Gaetano Vinaccia was a maker of violins and other instruments, active
in Naples in the early 19th century.  He was called the "Stradivarius
of mandolins"

Here is one of his violins:
http://www.kolstein.com/instruments/violin/v0945/index.shtml
The asking price is $25,000
http://www.kolstein.com/instruments/violin/

The Vinaccia family was already one of the leading families of
instrument makers in the 18th century.
http://www.maestronet.com/m_library/world_strings/fall82.pdf

However, I must urge you to get the instrument properly appraised by
an expert.

There is a long-standing practice of putting fake labels into violins:
http://www.fritz-reuter.com/DOC/articles/fritz/rin005.htm

In some cases this was purely fraud, while in others it was meant as
an homage to a master of the craft.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tarisio/beware.htm

Either way, I urge a healthy measure of scepticism until the
instrument is seen by an expert.

---

Clarification of Answer by tehuti-ga on 27 Jan 2003 15:16 PST

search strategy: 1. "rua catalana" Napoli (showed that this is an
authentic Naples address)  2. Gaetano Naples violin  3. "Gaetano
Vinaccia"

amazingly fast, Definetly told me what I was looking for,
Thanks,