Violin sale has strings attached

Former book publisher and philanthropist Herbert Axelrod has offered to sell his rare collection of Italian stringed instruments to the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra for a lower -- and lower -- price.

Axelrod told the orchestra that for every dollar it raises, he will reduce by two dollars the $25-million price tag he originally placed on the instruments.

The collection, which includes 12 Stradivarius and three Guarneri del Gesu violins, is valued at $50 million. It is already on loan to the orchestra, which has been working to raise the money since April.

Axelrod told the Star-Ledger of Newark that his latest offer is an attempt to close the deal so he can settle his own finances for the year.