We are pleased to offer for sale an original Dital Harp circa 1800 built by the instrument's inventor Edward Light. Light was based in London where he first patented his Dital or Lute harp in 1798. This fine example is completely original, complete with walnut hardshell case and cast-iron tuning wrench. Period gut strings remain intact on the harp as well as Light's signature dital thumb screws, which are meant to adjust each note a 1/2 step. With the tremendous amount of gold-leaf adornments, it is easy to imagine this harp sitting proudly in a Victorian era parlor. Gold leaf script appears on the back of the harp which reads: "Light. Foley Place, London" and "Patent No. 252". The instrument calls for some restoratiive work regarding the tuner mechanics, however the structural integrity is sound except for a slight separation on the back. Two vertical oval sound holes project the harps sound through the back. Truly a rare opportunity to step back in time.