A rare Stradivarius violin will be auctioned in London next month to raise funds for the earthquake and tsunami victims, a Japanese non-profit organisation which owns the instrument said.

The Tokyo-based Nippon Foundation, which runs maritime development and health and welfare programmes, said it would auction the Lady Blunt, a Stradivarius made in 1721 which it acquired in 2008.

It said the violin was once owned by Lady Ann Blunt, a granddaughter of the poet Byron.

“It is in nearly unused condition, and is said to be the best preserved Stradivarius violin in existence,” the foundation said in a statement on its website.

The violin is one of 21 string instruments the Nippon Music Foundation holds and loans free of charge to top class musicians around the world.

“The Nippon Music Foundation sees the instruments in its care as irreplaceably important.

“However, it has decided that the extremity of the disaster in northeastern Japan is something that overrides such feelings and is therefore selling the instrument to aid the people of that area,” it said.

Auctioneers Tarisio said the violin would be auctioned on June 20, with online and phone bids accepted.

The March 11 disasters left some 26,000 dead or missing and obliterated whole towns and villages on the northeast coast.

Violins made by Italian master craftsman Antonio Stradivari have sold for millions of dollars at auction.