There is controversy about its date. Commonly said to be a 1928 instrument, but researcher Joe Spann concluded that it couldn't have left the factory earlier than April 1929 and was shipped January, 1930.
References
InfoField
↑Alcantara, Paul. 85558- Gibson L-5. prewargibsonl-5.com. Archived from the original on 2017-05-04. Retrieved on 20 May 2018. "Joe Spann...Spann's Guide to Gibson...I conclude that Maybelle's guitar was shipped in January of 1930."
This is a retouched picture, which means that it has been digitally altered from its original version. Modifications: Picture cropped. The original can be viewed here: Carter Family 1927.jpg: . Modifications made by GDuwen.
Note that it may still be copyrighted in jurisdictions that do not apply the rule of the shorter term for US works (depending on the date of the author's death), such as Canada (50 p.m.a.), Mainland China (50 p.m.a., not Hong Kong or Macao), Germany (70 p.m.a.), Mexico (100 p.m.a.), Switzerland (70 p.m.a.), and other countries with individual treaties.