On the subject of early banjos, where can you get a look at one? Pictures or otherwise? I've seen many paintings but I'm not satisfied with trusting the painter's accuracy or willing to assume they were musicians themselves. What I would like to see is some detailed image of a banjo prior to say, 1850 as photos of post 1850 banjos are aplenty. I know, photography was just developling at the time. And before anyone says it, I've been all through the fine books: "Ring the Banjar", "That Half Barbaric Twang" and "America's Instrument, the Banjo in the 19th Century", as well as piles of 19th century sheet music covers. Anyone know of any other source of pre 1850 banjos?

Rex