S. S. Stewart “American Princess” 5-string banjo, S/N 10459, circa 1892.
This is an American Princess Style 3 with the highest grade mother of pearl inlay throughout the peghead and fingerboard. The banjo is very clean and fitted with original inlayed ivoroid twist "Maltese cross" tuners and a Common sense tailpiece missing the rosette. The American Princess was one of Stewart's more popular models with a 10" German silver spun over rim and a 24" scale cherry neck. The cherry neck sports a long, floral heel carving. It has colorful marquetry inside the entire rim and the outside of the rim is lightly engraved. Every fret has inlay and the heel carving is just beautiful. This instrument is set up traditionally with Nylgut strings.
