A Stradivarius violin is to be auctioned in June to raise funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
There is no such thing as a cheap Stradivarius, but this particular violin - known as the Lady Blunt - set records each time it was sold last century and fetched $US10 million at its last sale in 2008.
The violin was made in 1721 and named after one of its owners, Lady Anne Blunt, the granddaughter of the poet Lord Byron.
It is being sold by the Nippon Music Foundation, with the proceeds going to their Northeastern Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund.
Latest police figures state that 14,704 people are known to have died and another 10,969 remain missing following the quake and tsunami on 11 March.
Auctioneers Tarisio said they will sell the instrument online on 20 June.
Violin expert Christopher Reuning from Boston told Morning Report that the violin is so special that it should not really be played at all.
