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Isla Guapa

My sister lives in the States, and her husband recently inherited an antique classical guitar that he wants to sell. It was made by Enrique Garcia in Barcelona in 1915. She's sent me two photos: one of a label still attached to the interior of the guitar body attesting to the place and date of manufacture and another of a front view of the entire instrument. She's asked me to try and locate a reputable dealer in antique classical guitars in Mexico City who might be interested in purchasing this instrument. I have no idea where to begin. Thanks in advance for any leads or suggestions!

notamiss · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:01 pm Post subject:

I would start with these three pistas:

Check the UNAM School of Music http://www.enmusica.unam.mx/ and the National Conservatory http://www.conservatorianos.com.mx. Maybe visit the campuses physically, look at the bulletin boards, post physical ads.

Search for marketplaces online http://www.google.com/search?q=venta+guitarra+acustica+antigua+coleccionista+df Most of these seem to be for ads or forums for online selling, but it may also lead to stores and dealers. Or try this search http://www.google.com/search?q=guitarras+antiguedades+df

Visit the music store area downtown. I know of Calle Rep. de Brasil, but it's mostly modern instruments. There may be another area more oriented to antiques�does anyone know?

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks for these ideas, notamiss. I will choose the course of action that requires the least effort on my part Wink

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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

The antiques market in Zona Rosa may be a spot to try.

notamiss · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject:

Actually, I don�t see how they can do better selling it in Mexico than what they could do themselves from the US or through a US dealer. If it�s truly valuable, their market is the world, and working through Mexico is an added and unnecessary complication. It�s what one would have done before there was an internet.

They should check out some websites like these: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/guitars/classical,
http://www.elderly.com/vintage/cats/28U.htm,
http://www.guitarsint.com/classical_guitars.cfm and
http://www.classicalvintageguitars.com/.

I think you could do them a better service pointing them to these websites than wandering around the antiques markets in Zona Rosa. But don�t let that stop you from going, of course! I'm sure it would be interesting.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:21 pm Post subject:

notamiss · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:33 pm Post subject:

Please do so. I just gave the briefest glance at the websites I listed, so I only noticed that the last one definitely offers to buy a client�s guitar or to sell it for them on consignment. Perhaps some or all of the others do so, too.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject:

Notamiss, I think you may have saved me a lot of work running around the city and on the internet.

�Mil gracias!

notamiss · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject:

Here's another search that looks like might be productive: http://www.google.com/search?q=comprar+instrumentos+musicales+antiguos, leading to some online markets in Spanish. In case any of the search results look like good options to you, you could help your sister and brother-in-law as a language go-between.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 6:29 pm Post subject:

Notamiss, you are a real friend, both on- and off-line!