Autoharps are delicate creatures- they are subject to temerature changes, trauma, poor care, and many other things that could alter the instrument before you buy it. Knowing what to look for can save you many headaches in the future.  I would never buy an autoharp that has no photos in the auction- you can be assured you won't know what you're buying! Looking at the photos even require some knowledge- you have to know what you're looking at. When light shines on a perfectly flat surface, all the reflections will be even. If there is a warping to the front of an autoharp, look at the reflection- does it waver? If it does, there's most likely a warped front or back. The edges are important to look at also- for example, consider the edges are always the same color. If you see any light areas, there is possibly separation of the frame. If there is, and you're not knowledgable about rebuilding frames, leave it alone. One or two missing strings usually don't mean anything, but if there are many strings missing, think about the person that owned it before. Why would they break so many strings, and not replace them? I'd leave that one alone. That also goes with many missing parts- chord bars, buttons, whatever. There are many tricks being practiced  when selling autoharps, and it would be wise to be aware of some them. Some sellers will show only the front, but there might be a crack on the back; some will position the light so it doesn't reflect directly on the front, hiding a possible defect-warp or crack; might do the same for the edge. If you can't see any area of the autoharp, contact the seller and ask them to show another photo of the area you can't see. If they do, then they're not hiding anything, but if they don't, steer clear of that auction. The autoharp community has a website, full of knowledgeable people, willing to advise you if a particular autoharp is a wise choice. It's called "cyberpluckers". Log on to them if you're interested in autoharps, and you'll have a wealth of help to purchase your autoharp. Most of the people selling autoharps on ebay are honest, but some are willing to deceive, and some don't rightly know anything about them and can mislead you. To some any autoharp is a valuable antique! Another thing to watch out for, is where the autoharp is being sold from- if it's coming from a foreign country, you could have a heavy shipping cost added to your bid - always add the shipping costs before you start bidding, then there won't be any surprises at the end! A little forethought can help make your purchase what it is supposed to be- fun. Good luck, and happy bidding!