1896 C.F. Martin 4-40 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar - Modern Hardshell Case – Used
This is a genuinely exceptional and rare survivor from the earliest era of American guitar making. Built by C.F. Martin & Co. sometime between 1867 and 1898, before the company began assigning serial numbers, this Style 40 occupies a singular place in Martin history. At the time it was made, Martin was a small operation producing only a few hundred instruments a year, and the Style 40 sat just below the Style 42 and several years ahead of the now-legendary Style 45 as the finest guitar the company offered. The size 4 body is tiny by modern standards — just 11-1/2 inches at the lower bout with a 22-inch scale length, small enough to be played and tuned either as a standard 3/4-scale guitar or as a true Terz guitar, tuned a third higher with the lowest string pitched to G. Size 4 guitars in any style do not appear in Martin's records after 1898, which makes this an unusually scarce survivor even among 19th-century Martins.
The materials and craftsmanship reflect the highest tier of what Martin was capable of in this era. The back and sides are deeply figured Brazilian rosewood, the top is tight-grained Appalachian spruce with extremely delicate scalloped X-bracing built for gut strings, and the body is bordered in extravagant abalone inlay with blue, green, and pink hues running through it. The center back strip is an elaborate inlaid wood marquetry design, and all binding throughout the instrument is ivory, including the pyramid-style bridge. The neck is Spanish cedar with a grafted, solid headstock fitted with carved ivory friction pegs — a more refined and costly option than the slotted, geared-tuner headstock more commonly seen on guitars of this period. An ivory strap pin is set into the back of the headstock, and the ebony fingerboard, true to Style 40 specification, carries no inlay, distinguishing it from the pearl-bordered fingerboard of the Style 42. The New York-era Martin stamp appears on the back of the headstock, the backstrip, and the neck block, consistent with production sometime before the company's 1898 shift to the Nazareth, PA stamp.
This guitar has been formally appraised by George Gruhn of Gruhn Guitars, one of the foremost authorities on vintage fretted instruments in the world, who confirmed the instrument as a genuine Martin 4-40 dating to the 1867-1898 period and noted a current market value of $25,000. The Gruhn appraisal documents several old repairs consistent with an instrument of this age, including repaired cracks in the top and back, a treble-side body repair with small patches, a re-glued bridge, a replaced saddle, two replacement bridge pins, and a small replaced section of the ivory top edge binding — all addressed competently and documented transparently. The finish appears original throughout and shows the kind of light, even wear appropriate to its age. None of this is unusual or concerning for a 125-plus-year-old flat-top; if anything, it is remarkable how structurally sound and playable this guitar remains.
This particular example plays beautifully. Action is comfortable and the bar frets remain in fantastic shape with only light wear in the first position — genuinely impressive for a fingerboard this old. The original ivory friction pegs tune smoothly and hold well. This is a delicate, quiet, and exceptionally lyrical-sounding instrument, with the kind of glassy intimacy and surprising depth that drew Gilded Age players to Martin's finest output. It comes housed in a modern, properly fitted hardshell case — appropriately sized, since no one currently manufactures cases for a 19th-century size 4 Martin.
A note for buyers: this guitar was built for gut strings and should only be strung with silk and steel or nylon strings — never modern steel strings, which the original construction was never designed to withstand. Given the age, rarity, and value of this instrument, we strongly encourage serious inquiries, additional photos, and any questions prior to purchase, and we are glad to provide whatever documentation or additional detail would help you feel confident in this transaction. The Gruhn Guitars appraisal letter is available to the winning buyer.
This guitar contains Brazilian rosewood. We are happy to work with the buyer to follow all applicable CITES guidelines for shipment — please contact us before purchasing so we can discuss documentation and logistics together.
- Make: C.F. Martin & Co.
- Model: 4-40 (Style 40, size 4 body)
- Era: 1867-1898 (per Gruhn Guitars appraisal; pre-serial number, New York-era stamp)
- Country of origin: USA (New York / Nazareth, PA transition period)
- Body size: 4 (11-1/2" lower bout)
- Overall length: 33-1/4"
- Body depth: 3-3/4"
- Scale length: 22"
- Nut width: 1-3/4"
- Top: Appalachian spruce, scalloped X-bracing
- Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood
- Back strip: Elaborate inlaid wood marquetry
- Top trim: Abalone border inlay
- Rosette: Multi-ply with abalone center ring
- Neck: Spanish cedar, grafted solid peghead
- Fingerboard: Ebony, no inlay, bar frets
- Bridge: Ivory, pyramid style (re-glued; saddle replaced)
- Bridge pins: Ivory/bone with pearl center dots (four original, two period-correct replacements)
- Binding: Ivory throughout (small replaced section on top edge)
- Tuners: Carved ivory friction pegs ("lollypop" style)
- Heel cap: Ivory
- Strap pin: Ivory, set into headstock back
- Repairs: Multiple old crack repairs to top and back, treble-side body repair with small patches, re-glued bridge, replaced saddle, two replacement bridge pins, small replaced ivory binding section — all per Gruhn Guitars appraisal
- Appraisal: Gruhn Guitars, May 2026, certified authentic Martin 4-40 dating to 1867-1898, current market value $25,000
- Condition: Used Excellent – age-appropriate finish wear, multiple old crack repairs as documented, frets and neck in fantastic playable condition
- Includes: Modern fitted hardshell case, Gruhn Guitars appraisal letter
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing. This guitar contains Brazilian rosewood; please contact us before purchasing to discuss CITES documentation and shipping logistics.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
