1938 Martin D-18
JIM IRSAY COLLECTION SUPPLEMENT
1938 Martin D-18
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Christie’ s Pre-auction estimate: 40,000 – 60,000 Price realized: $ 57,150 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– The second D-18 in the sale carried no major musical provenance. It was acquired through Gruhn Guitars in 2021. At $ 57,150, it landed squarely in the middle of the expected range for a well-preserved but non-celebrity pre-war dreadnought. Comparable instruments of this type cluster between $ 30,000 and $ 80,000, a spread governed by finish integrity, repair history, and the structural details. The Christie’ s result fits comfortably inside that band. The absence of a compelling ownership narrative means this guitar was priced on what it is: a sound, original pre-war dreadnought with good documentation. As a benchmark for non-celebrity examples of the model, it is probably the most useful data point of the three.
COLLECTIBLE GUITAR | 137