Germany, Imperial. A Mint Mounted Rifles Visor Cap

(Schirmmütze für Offiziere im Dragoner-Regiment). A rare and exceptionally well-preserved visor cap worn by Officers and NCOs of a variety of Mounted Rifles units. It is constructed of a smooth light blue (Hellblau) wool and features reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a red wool cap band. An additional band of red wool piping trims the outer edge of the crown. Pinned onto the peak is a “Reichskokarde”-style tricolour cockade consisting of black and silver non-magnetic metal rings set around a red felt centrepiece, measuring 23 mm in diameter. Directly below, the centre of the cap band is pinned with an additional cockade consisting of a black and silvered non-magnetic metal, indicating Prussian issue. Completing the exterior features is a protruding vulcanfibre visor, finished in a glossed black on the obverse and in a matte white on the reverse. The interior of the cap band is surrounded by a fully-intact light brown leather sweatband, while the crown is fully encompassed by a white satin liner. The crown retains a partially-visible gilded maker’s mark. It measures approximately 232 mm (w) x 250 mm (l) x 140 mm (h). With the exception of minor interior soiling consistent with light wear, this rare example of a pre-1910 visor cap is in a near mint condition.

Footnote: The cap’s colour scheme narrows its distribution to seven potential units, including 1. Garde-Dragoner-Regt. Königin Viktoria von Großbritannien und Irland (Berlin) Garde-Korps, 2. Garde-Dragoner-Regt. Kaiserin Alexandra von Rußland (Berlin) Garde-Korps, Dragoner-Regt. Prinz Albrecht von Preußen (Litthauisches) Nr.1 (Tilsit) I Armee Korps, Dragoner-Regt. Freiherr von Manteuffel (Rheinisches) Nr. 5 (Hofgeismar) XI Armee Korps, Schleswig-Holsteinisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr. 13 (Metz) XVI Armee Korps, 1. Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Dragoner-Regt. Nr. 17 (Ludwigslust) IX Armee Korps, and 1. Badisches Leib-Dragoner-Regt. Nr. 20.