Dear Charley,
I am also intrigued by your dulcimer because of the inner label reading, "Franciscan". I am a Franciscan Friar...one of those brown-robed, sandal-footed monk types of Friar Tuck fame from the days of Robin Hood and the Sherwood Forest. I was amazed to see our name in there and am wondering if at one time any of our friars (there are about 20,000 of us in the world!) were building dulcimers?!?!?
If you learn any more about this instrument, I'd love to know.
Sincerely,
Brother Mark