BACKGROUND: Originally, members of the fledgling S.A. had no official headgear, and most wore a grey, Austrian-style ski cap until the introduction of the soft kepi in 1924. It was modified in 1929, taking, effectively, its final "coffee can" form. After 1933, the colored tops which had hitherto been reserved for S.A. leaders were extended to all ranks.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A tan cotton twill cap with a flat crown, stiff sides and visor. The wire-stiffened edge of the crown is piped in the same material, and there are two metal ventilation grommets just below the crown edge to either side. The grommets are along a band of light blue wool, exhibiting moderate age soiling and heavy nap wear, which is exposed 7/8" along the sides and back, sloping down to 1 5/8" at the front. A 1937 pattern, silver washed, stamped alloy eagle and swastika, whose wingspan is 2 5/8", is applied to the colored front by the two prongs to its reverse. Its original finish appears to be fully retained, although moderate age soiling covers all but its highlights. Tan cotton twill panels, originally designed to fold down but which were permanently stitched into an upright position after 1937, are beneath the colored band and scallop towards the front where they are buttoned at the forward central seam. A 13/16" diameter, silver-colored, smooth metal button is to this seam between the eagle and the chinstrap. The brown leather chinstrap is in two sections, connected by a vertical oval "ring" and with a brown-painted metal sliding adjustment buckle to either side. The chinstrap is attached at either end by two, small, smooth brown-painted metal buttons. The kepi’s short, stiff visor is covered in tan cotton twill. The interior crown is lined in rust-colored oilcloth, and has "722," "Statni Film" within a rectangle, and "5030" ink stamped to it. Statni Film is a Czechoslovakian film company that utilized stocks of original captured German material from 1945 until the Wall came down in 1989. Its light brown leather sweatband shows light chafe wear and has one small tear to it. The letter "R" has been handwritten underneath its forward edge, and a brown and white oilcloth RZM tag is sewn underneath its left side. This is a late-pattern kepi, as distinguished by the large eagle and swastika and stitched-up panels, originally worn by a member of S.A.-group Hochland, as distinguished by the light blue color along its top in combination with the silver-colored button to its front. The ranks of S.A.-Mann through S.A.-Obertruppführer wore these un-piped kepi with the Gruppe color exposed above the fold-down panels. Some light edge wear is evident to the crown, there is a light spot to the right side panel, and the twill is lightly age soiled throughout. All of the paint to the buttons and buckles had been retained. Nice cap.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $820.00