the violin is in like-new condition, as it was seldom played. the tonal potential of the instrument has been questioned due to the conditions of the hill bequest. however it was played by the famous violinist joseph joachim, who stated in a letter of 1891 to the then owner of the "messiah", robert crawford, that he was struck by the combined sweetness and grandeur of the sound. nathan milstein played it at the hills' shop before 1940 and described it as an unforgettable experience. it is one of the most valuable of all the stradivari instruments.