'Rare' Stradivari viola expected to go under the hammer for $45m

A rare Stradivari viola is expected to sell for 45 million dollars at auction.

The incredibly rare viola was crafted in 1719 by the legendary Antonio Stradivari and is one of the 10 violas that have survived all these years, making it the world's most expensive instrument, the New York Post reported.

According to Sotheby's, the instrument, which is called "the Macdonald", named after the 3rd Baron Macdonald, Godfrey Bosville, who owned it in the early 19th century, will fetch at least 45 million dollars and is the first such viola to be on the open market in about 50 years.