S.S. (Samuel Swain) Stewart Banjo

Philadelphia, PA. Serial #: 14038. Orchestra model No. 4. 11" rim. Extensive inlay, carved heel, internal rim marquetry, outside rim engraved. Length: 92cm.

Samuel Swain (S.S.) Stewart was born in Philadelphia in 1855. He kept a music store and was simultaneously an instrument maker and music publisher who dreamt to see the banjo respected as a classical instrument (not just as folk). He made banjos from 1878 under his own name, and also the Acme brand for Sears. He introduced many innovations in banjo construction and is credited for inventing the Banjeaurine in 1885 (a small scale banjo intended to play lead melody in banjo orchestras). Stewart banjos led the field until the tone ring was invented in the 1890's by A C Fairbanks. That saw the rise of Fairbanks, Cole and then Vega. Stewart died in 1898 at the age of just 43 but made over 25,000 banjos of all sizes and styles.

The S.S. Stewart banjo continued to be made by his partner George Bauer, a guitar and mandolin maker, until around 1910. Stewart's sons (one of whom was Fred. S Stewart) also manufactured banjos around the turn of the century. The name and the banjo survived a buy-out for another five years or so. The name's life spanned longer with Gibson and Lange producing banjos under the S.S. Stewart name.

The Meisel Collection. This instrument is being sold from The Meisel Collection assembled over a period of forty years by an accomplished attorney from Princeton, New Jersey. The owner traveled the world in search of rare, interesting, and handsome instruments to fill a collection that until now was displayed in his beautiful Princeton home.

Please note: The items in the Meisel Collection are being sold F.O.B. Princeton, New Jersey. The recommended shipper is the U.P.S. Store, 174 Nassau St., Princeton, NJ 08542 which has extensive experience shipping fragile auction items. The Store can be emailed at store2026@theupsstore.com or called at 609-924-0759. The auction house makes no commission on shipping; payment for shipping is made by the buyer directly to the shipper. Although buyers are free to use any shipper they choose, we have found this shipper to be fair and reliable.

Condition: More detailed condition reports and additional photographs are available by request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is in very fine condition. Please message us through the online bidding platform or email Guernsey's at auctions@guernseys.com to request a more thorough condition report.