Jose Do Espiritu Santo late c. 1880's

Made by Jose Do Espiritu Santo. In 1879, Santo was aboard the Ravenscraig, the 2nd boatload of Portuguese immigrants to come to Hawaii. He was one of 3 men on board who could make what became known in Hawaii as the ukulele, derived from the Portuguese instrument the machete, or braguinha. This very fine example boasts a readable label. The other two men, Augusto Dias and Manuel Nunes also began manufacturing ukuleles shortly after their arrival. A very rare ukulele from a time near the Hawaiian origin of the instrument.