I Have just noticed a very dubious W E Hill & Sons certificate on Ebay, for an Italian Violin from the early 1700s. being offered at a high price.

The certificate was of a violin submitted to Hills and not sold by them, a practice they did not use at the time of issue, 1943. Hills only issued certificates for violins they sold at the time of the sale. The signature looks very dubious as does the typing.

I can not identify the violin on ebay as it would break Ebay rules.

In the early 1980s Hills offered to authenticate their old certificates as a number of fake certificates had come to their attention. I had then bought a V. Panormo violin from a Philips auction and took the certificate dated from the 1930s to Hills at Great Missenden with the violin for a check over. Fortunately it passed scrutiny!

I enclose a photo of a genuine Hill certificate.

Hill's certificates were on a single sheet of paper with a description of the instrument and the label, if any, but no photos. Such a document would be relatively easy to produce on a laser printer although the characteristic signature would need to be by hand.

The condition of the instrument may have changed dramatically since the issue of an old certificate, so a statement of condition cannot be relied on

Buyers beware. Hills are not around to check anymore!.

Violins from Hills should have a number stamped at the end of the fingerboard and have a Hill fitted bridge.

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