A Luftwaffe Officer's Visor Cap by Robert Lubstein

Fabricated in Luftwaffe blue gray Fliegerblau (Flier's Blue) wool, with a wide black ribbed rayon cap band, traditional high peak with matching white piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band. It is decorated with a well-detailed silvered aluminum Luftwaffe eagle insignia on the peak and an oak leaf wreath with stylized wings and cockade on the band, the latter in silvered aluminum with a red and black painted cockade. The black smooth finished patent leather chin strap rests upon the visor, composed of three pieces, the central piece with two magnetic metal buckles and joined to the flanking end pieces via rectangular loops, the end pieces attached to black finished buttons on either side. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper and has a dark green synthetic underside. The butterscotch-coloured leather sweatband is perforated along the front edge with five tiny rows of forty ventilation holes each, the ends of the sweatband pinned together on the left side. The inside of the cap is lined in a copper-coloured nylon, with the dome brandishing a celluloid moisture shield, marked in gold-coloured ink on the shield with the EREL insignia, the insignia's ribbon banner inscribed "Sonder Klasse" (EREL Special Class) and maker marked "Robert Lubstein / Größte Berliner Militär Mütze Fabrik / Berlin N.W.21 / Alt Moabit 105 / Liefarjahr / 1938", size stamped "56" in black ink on the nylon-lined dome under the celluloid shield above the EREL insignia. The cap measures 245 mm x 265 mm x 120 mm in height overall, with the underlying frame behind the black ribbed rayon cap band having experienced cracking on both sides from improper storage, light contact on the patent leather chin strap and vulcanfibre visor, light discolouration evident on the leather sweatband from active use. Near very fine. (C:49)