I know, there are plenty of similar looking models, I just couldn't find that exact model. Well, I hope I will find out sooner or later!
As I said, assuming all is original, the tailpiece, the label (I see something like a big "3D" on it (not visible in above compressed picture), the fretboard cut are probably the best giveaways.
I am not a member there but read lost of the threads so far.
George Gruhn sent me a message telling me: "
It is an Asian import copy of a 1960s Gibson A-5 mandolin."
Yes, I guess that is what it looks like, but I was wondering as the book is from 1963 and the Japanese import two pointers only came in the 70's as far as I know...
http://books.google.de/books?id=d60...epage&q=mel bay fun with the mandolin&f=false
But I think the answer is that the cover is not the original 1963 one and was changed later on. (Well the picture I posted initially is definitely changed as it shows a CD on it, but the one in Google Books does not).
So it is a Japanese copy of a Gibson A-5. Just trying to find which one of the many Japanese.
Ralf