France, April 25 -- The first clue was an article in a local newspaper.

It reported that violinist Emmanuel Coppey had demonstrated his talent on several old violins during an evening of music and wine in the city of Colmar in the Alsace region of France, near the German border.

Luthier Nicolo Amati had made the first in 1624, and Antonio Guarneri crafted the second in 1735, Les Dernieres nouvelles d'Alsace reported.

The third was made by fellow Italian Antonio Stradivari, in 1719.

"I am absolutely convinced that it is the Lauterbach," Bernheim told French news agency AFP - referring to the name of one of the violin's first owners.

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