Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Coastal Artillery EM/NCO’s Overseas Cap, by Clemens Wagner

(Kriegsmarine Schiffchen für Mannschaften der Küstenartillerie). A well-preserved Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery EM/NCO’s overseas cap, constructed of field-grey wool. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side walls which scallop toward the front. A ventilation hole flanks each side of the crown, both reinforced with metal grommets. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a field-grey rayon backer bearing a machine-embroidered golden-yellow Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 65 mm (w) x 25 mm (h). Directly below the eagle, the front also features an insignia in the form of a grey rayon diamond bearing a machine-embroidered tri-colour cockade, measuring 38 mm (w) x 38 mm (h). A multi-piece grey cotton liner encompasses the interior. The crown is stamped with a maker’s mark of “CLEMENS WAGNER, BRAUNSCHWEIG”, circumscribing a manufacture date of “JUL 39”. Also stamped onto the crown is a Kriegsmarine Bekleidungsamt Kiel mark, with an inspection/acceptance date of “25. 7. 39”. The cap measures approximately 27 cm (l) x 11 cm (h) when folded on a flat surface. Minor and sporadic material fatigue is visible to the exterior material, but this cap, notably manufactured on the eve of the Second World War, remains in a near extremely fine condition.