The Nippon Music Foundation is selling the 'Lady Blunt' Stradivari to raise money for the Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief fund. The 1721 violin, one of the finest and best-preserved Stradivaris in existence, will be auctioned by online specialist Tarisio on 20 June, with all proceeds going to the disaster relief fund. The instrument set an auction record back in 1971 when it sold at Sotheby's for $200,000. The Nippon Music Foundation acquired it through a private sale a few years ago, paying more than $10m. Tarisio expects the violin to make a similar figure in June.

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