Re: Is this a reasonable price?
Ed's right. The playability is everything. As Allen says, it is nearly impossible to tell from the photos. You're going to have to go have a look if you want to know. The fact that it was kept in a case is positive. The looks of those broken strings isn't promising.
Take a straight edge ruler with you when you go see it. Set one edge on the nut and the other on the bridge (position the bridge just a bit to the neck side of the cant -- or bend - in the mandolin's top.)
Using another measure tool (a precise one) measure the distance from the bottom of your straight edge ruler to the top of the 12th fret on the instrument's neck.
Measure carefully. Very carefully.
If it is 1/8", I would recommend buying it. 3/16" or more, then I would follow Allen's advice.
Looks like a mandolin out of Chicago. Lyon and Healy, likely, given the profile of the headstock, which was what was used on many of their "American Conservatory" line instruments. Note...this is not an American Conservatory line instrument. L+H mixed and matched parts for the many, many mandolins they made for other dealers, for their own label, or sold without any label. They made good stuff at all price points, though.
The top wood looks in great shape, the rosewood bowl is lovely. The "tree of life" inlay is nice. Tuners look good. The "cloud" tailpiece is good....probably worth $40 on its own. It looks like an "ebonized" fretboard rather than proper ebony, which is perhaps the one obvious lesser element.
Nothing wrong with starting out on a bowlback! I'd encourage it.....
Mick
Ever tried, ever failed? No matter. Try again, fail again. Fail better.--Samuel Beckett
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