What is my Grandfathers Mandolin worth?

[Andyl]

My sister received my grandfather's mandolin after he passed away. She would like to know what it might be worth (she could use the money) and what is the best way to sell it.
Not sure if an Imgur link works or is permitted but I will try.

https://imgur.com/a/WdlVSi8

190779

[pheffernan]

My sister received my grandfather's mandolin after he passed away. She would like to know what it might be worth (she could use the money) and what is the best way to sell it.

It looks like a Regal reverse scroll mandolin. There’s one like it, in seemingly worse cosmetic shape, for $99.99 on Reverb:

https://reverb.com/item/35715979-vintage-regal-107-reverse-scroll-mandolin-1920-s

The best place to sell it would be the classifieds on this site, but most here would urge your sister instead to learn to play it.

[NickR]

These Regal reverse scroll mandolins were made at a number of price points over a 20 odd year period until about 1935. Yours appears to be in good order but it is one of the lower cost and very common versions. Most are in a bad way when they appear on eBay. Some have a pickguard- I don't know if there are two screw holes on the top- and I can't see any which would indicate it once had one. There was one for sale in the UK where they are much rarer and it was in good order and made a respectable £173. There is what looks like a pickguard for one of these on eBay right now for a fairly low price if you need one. Here is the mandolin that sold in the UK.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Regal-reverse-scroll-mandolin-/154217392434?hash=item23e812a932%3Ag%3AN5wAAOSwCB5 fwmpp&nma=true&si=UI9JYMAcOBMArXoWzyIqwlnQQFs%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

However, back in the USA, this one which is just like yours- no pickguard and I can't see screw holes in good order just made it past the $65 mark.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1920-s-Regal-Lyra-Reverse-Scroll-Mandolin-24-X-9-1-4-NICE-/313241164678?hash=item48eea0db86%3Ag%3Aj6UAAOSw7bl fdjAo&nma=true&si=L0vNrvf9Wb%252BkDQYTPearpKKf%252BjY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Jim Garber]

As others have noted, these were budget mandolins and often sold wholesale by the half dozen. Your grandfather's is in good shape but getting $150 would be a very good price, more likely lower.

[FLATROCK HILL]

Gumby's alter ego.

[PlayerOf8]

i just purchased this same model but with binding and better wood from Bernunzo's Music for $400.

[brunello97]

While some continue to use the colloquial name of "reverse scroll" the Encyclopedia Mandolica cites the proper name for this style mandolin as "Papa Smurf".

Mick

[Jim Garber]

i just purchased this same model but with binding and better wood from Bernunzo's Music for $400.

I don't see any reverse scrolls om Bernunzio's site any longer. Was yours a flattop or a arched one?

[NickR]

This rather delightful bound 1920s example with a body that looks to be rosewood made $355 a month ago. It is clearly a fair few rungs up the ladder in terms of build quality and materials. It may have once had an engraved tailpiece cover.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-REGAL-REVERSE-SCROLL-FLAT-BACK-MANDOLIN-/143846594921?hash=item217decd969%3Ag%3A90cAAOSwPjZ fs0iP&nma=true&si=L0vNrvf9Wb%252BkDQYTPearpKKf%252BjY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Jim Garber]

Ah, yes. I love the little curlicues on the headstock and the end of the fretboard. And the extra point on the treble side of the lower bout.

[NickR]

I will load up a photo for posterity!

190806

[Zach Wilson]

I've always wondered why we don't call them Man-gnome-lins.

190819