How can you tell if it is an original violin Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis faciebat anno domini 1732?
Given the small number of known Stradivari instruments (about 700) and the small number of those still missing, the odds of finding one of those missing instruments are pretty long. Since many manufacturers over the years, as well as forgers, have made copies and called them Stradivarius, it’s more likely to have a copy than an original.
