New Rene Lacote Guitars available in Madrid in 1835

The 1857 Bernabe Carrafa Music Store catalog page, actually may be a reprint from an earlier catalog, with updated prices, included in that year's catalog, from the 1830's in that the Inlaid Tuners came about in 1832, and the catalog mentions it as a new invention, also the listing of Pajes or Pages as we know it in the guitar collector realm, was a listing of a current new guitar available in the 1830's, as the Pages family members were born between the 1740's-1770's, and would be at the end of their career when offering a guitar to be sold at the Bernabe Carrafa Music Store in the 1830's.

My friend and colleague Roland Terrier, who is now retired, has the largest quantity of violin catalogues on line bar none. After collecting for more than 35 years, I still found 3 items worthy of my receiving credit on his French language website. A Parisian 1934 Bernard and Roger Millant violin catalogue, a 1951 Lucien Schmidt magazine and a 1955 Pierre Vidoudez book about bows and violins.

"We present this excerpt from a Spanish catalog dating from 1857, without further explanation. It is interesting to note the French instruments offered by this firm: "semi-fine" (mid-quality) instruments, as well as those labeled "Breton," "Nicolas," "Vuillaume," and "Gand" and, more enigmatically, double basses attributed to "Vuillaume et Claudot." "

On page 29 we see the mention of "Large format Guitars - Spanish, English, German and French fabricated by Pages, Lacote and other makers Antique and Modern

471 Fine antique tuning peg assembly 150

472 Very Fine, geared tuners 380

473 Superior 450

474 Extra superior with Inlaid tuners 800

In the number 473 and 474 the prices include a case - In the 1st is one of a case of fine class and that of the 2nd is the absolute finest case fabricated in Paris."

Though this catalog is dated 1857, the important aspect to realize is that the inlaid tuners described as a "New invention" were initially produced and installed in 1832 due to requests by Lacote's clients. Also Pages, Juan (1741-1821), Joseph (1762-) Antonio (1764-), Francisco (1773-) Joaquin (1779-), most in the family would have been very elderly or deceased by 1857.

These new Lacote guitars were the most expensive available in Madrid.