Germany, Luftwaffe. A Rare General’s Visor Cap, by Carl Halfar

(Luftwaffe Schirmmütze für Generale). A rare and extremely well-preserved Luftwaffe General’s visor cap, constructed of thick dark-grey wool. The cap features reinforced side walls which are lined on the exterior with a black mohair cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the band are trimmed with gold bullion wire piping, while an additional length of identical piping trims the outer edge of the crown. The former’s internal wire reinforcement has been deliberately removed to give the cap a popular but non-regulation Sattelform appearance. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a dark grey wool backer bearing a hand-embroidered gold bullion wire Luftwaffe eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, with feathering and details carefully highlighted in golden-yellow threading, measuring 66 mm (w) x 46 mm (h). Directly below the eagle, the centre of the cap band features an additional insignia in the form of a black wool backer bearing a gold bullion wire wreathed and cockade, measuring 135 mm (w) x 40 mm (h). The lower edges of the cap band are flanked on each side by pebbled, gilded, magnetic metal buttons which accommodate a chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled gold bullion wire piping. Completing the exterior features is a protruding black vulcanfibre visor. A multi-piece slate-grey rayon liner full encompasses the interior, while a wide dark brown leather sweatband surrounds the walls. The crown retains an intact transparent plastic moisture guard which bears the “CE-HA PRIMA” trade name of the noted firm of Carl Halfar, Berlin, topped by a Luftwaffe distribution mark. Pinned onto the back of the sweatband is a paper label bearing a size mark of “58”. The cap measures approximately 23 cm (w) x 28 cm (l) x 16.5 cm (h). Minor soiling and material fatigue consistent with period wear is evident to the interior, but this example, produced by a noted manufacturer of headgear to specifications reflecting the highest echelons of the Luftwaffe, remains in an extremely fine condition.