Gibson A-1 Mandolin 1923 Lloyd Loar Era with Case

Description

Gibson A-1 Mandolin 1923 Lloyd Loar Era with Case.
This is a Gibson A-1 mandolin with carved Birch back and sides with brown finish, carved Spruce top with black finish, and an oval sound hole with small transverse brace.
It is sometimes called a “Snakehead” due to the shape of the headstock. The body is bound in ivoroid, with no binding on the fret board or peg head. The oval hole has ivoroid interior binding and single ring Ivoroid rosette.
The serial number is 742XX and the factory order number is 11952. Both of these indicate a 1923 construction and shipping date. This is during the time when acoustic engineer Lloyd Loar was working at Gibson. The Loar era mandolins are thought to be the best mandolins ever built. Loar designed the famous F5 mandolin and the L5 archtop guitar. He also implemented things like the adjustable height bridge as seen on this mandolin. The patent number appears on the bridge base. There is also a patent number on the pickguard. Lloyd Loar worked at Gibson from 1919 to 1924.
This mandolin is in excellent condition. It is 98 years old! There are random nicks and marks but this is the cleanest 1923 A-1 mandolin I have ever seen. There is no wear on the original frets. No repairs or issues to speak of. It has been set up with new strings and sounds fantastic.
The neck is straight. There is a small area of missing black paint on the left edge of the top. The case is original and also in very nice condition.
BTW – The headstock does not and should not have a “The Gibson” logo on it during the 1922-24 era. “The Gibson” name appears on the tailpiece and also on the interior label. The serial number is very faded on the label and you have to get just the right angle of light to make it out.
I would love not to have to ship this 98year old instrument so local pickup can be arranged. I will not do any unusual payment deals. Shipping will be for Fed Ex Ground.
Canada, Hawaii and Alaska are slightly higher. For Canadian buyers, I will not put false amounts on customs forms. USA and Canada only.
I will insure it to value and pack the item well.
Please ask all questions before the end of the auction.
Bidders with no or very low feedback are welcome but must email me to let me know they are serious about the item and will
follow through. Thanks for reading all this stuff.