N32550 DIPLOMATIC/GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL'S VISOR CAP. (Schirmmütze) The German Foreign Ministry was originally established in 1871 to oversee Germany’s diplomatic affairs and policies with regards to other nations. Although the Foreign Ministry and the Diplomatic Corps had a formal "uniform" prior to Hitler’s ascension to power on January 30^TH 1933, it wasn’t until the formal state visit to Rome in May 1938 that the first Third Reich era uniform for personnel of both the Foreign office and the Diplomatic Corps was introduced. Originally the Foreign office and the Diplomatic Corp uniforms were in navy blue material but immediately on returning from the state visit in Rome the first uniform was replaced with a black uniform. Nice quality, private purchase, black doe skin wool construction visor cap with a black wool centerband and bright interwoven silver/aluminum piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire, internal padding and a vertical stiffener to the front center are all intact and give the cap a nice, relaxed, saddle form shape with a high central peak. The front center of the cap has a hand embroidered Diplomatic/Government official’s style national eagle with out-stretched wings, in bright silver/aluminum wire threads with bright silver/aluminum bullion and tan accent threads on a cut-out dark navy blue wool base. The right facing eagle shows nice detailing including the distinctive cross-hatching to its breast. The eagle is handstitched to the cap. The front center of the centerband has a hand embroidered oak-leaf wreath in bright silver/aluminum wire threads encompassing a national tri-color cockade in black and silver/aluminum wire with a red felt centerpiece. The wreath and cockade are mounted on a cut-out navy blue wool base that is also handstitched to the cap. The cap has a bright, twisted silver/aluminum chin cord which is secured to the cap by two, small silver washed pebbled magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has a black vulcanfibre visor with a raised lip near the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in a combination of ribbed and smooth, pale green rayon. The interior crown of the cap has a clear celluloid sweat diamond which is fully intact. The interior of the cap also has a wide, tan leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front section. The interior lining shows light color fading and some minor staining and the sweatband has numerous rips and tears. The sweatband is well marked with impressed, silvered, manufacturers name, "Erel". The exterior of the cap is in overall very good condition with a few stitches missing from the visor. The cap is roughly size 54. Very rare cap.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $ SOLD