Just noticing on eBay that a hand-played Joplin "Maple Leaf Rag"
went for over $470.  A friend of mine was remarking about how he
thought in days gone by it would have gone for a thousand dollars.
Are they worth it ?

I have not heard this particular roll, but I have to think that,
while many rolls have Joplin's name on them, were there any truly
"hand played rolls" from an era without marking pianos (to my
knowledge)?

Someone may have scanned this roll, and therefore it would be a treat
to hear, I am sure, but really -- is any roll worth that amount?

Dave Haibach

 [ In his book, "King of Ragtime - Scott Joplin and His Era",
 [ ragtime historian Edward A. Berlin writes, "In April, May, and
 [ June of 1916, Joplin made seven hand-played piano rolls, six for
 [ the Connorized Company and one for Uni-Record [Aeolian]..."
 [
 [ See also "Scott Joplin Piano Rolls", by Robert Perry, at
 [ http://www.mmdigest.com/archives/Digests/200708/2007.08.14.05.html 
 [ -- Editor