No idea about the De Meglio connection. Queen Margherita was certainly a mandolinist, and while she may have played a De Meglio at some stage, the only mandolin I
know she played is a very fancy 1880s Vinaccia on display in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London -- I've seen it and it's way over the top (nicely made, though, and with the Savoy crest in the inlay). Paul Sparks mentions the Queen seven times in his book "The Classical Mandolin", but only two of these citations mention the mandolin she was playing: one from 1865 (a Pasquale Vinaccia) and one from 1898 (again a Vinaccia "valued at 300 Pounds", possibly the one in the V&A). Then there is
this Vinaccia label from 1902, posted a few years ago by Jim Garber, showing the Savoy crest and the inscription "
Provveditori di S.M. LA REGINA MARGHERITA". All in all, it seems fairly clear that the Queen herself, at least, was a one-shop Vinaccia afficionado. If De Meglio managed to get a royal endorsement it would appear not to have been from the Queen.
Martin
PS: I love your recording of Speranze Perdute! Apart from the lovely tone of the De Meglio, you have a great groove. I've recently recorded that tune myself for Youtube, but my playing is way wooden compared to yours!
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