Bavaria, Kingdom. A Rare Pilot’s Badge, Type 4, by Carl Poellath

(Flugzeugführerabzeichen Königreich Bayern). Constructed of silvered brass, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel and oak leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, topped by a Bavarian state crown, surrounding a central depiction of a monoplane flying over a rural landscape, the reverse with a barrel hinge and horizontal pinback meeting a rounded catch, maker marked “CARL POELLATH, SCHROBENHAUSEN” (using the firm’s Type 4 design as examined in “Aircrew Badges and Honour Prizes of the Flying Troops from 1913 to 1920” by Carsten Baldes, 2012, page 42), measuring 44.23 mm (w) x 72.38 mm (h), 23.5 grams, a rare and textbook example in extremely fine condition.