Germany, Luftwaffe. A Rare EM/NCO’s Blue Afrika Corps Overseas Cap

(Luftwaffe Tropen Schiffchen). A rare and very well-preserved Luftwaffe EM/NCO’s Afrika issued light blue cap, constructed of a blue-grey cotton twill. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side walls, gently scalloped towards the front. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a dark slate-grey wool backer bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, measuring 72 mm (w) x 46 mm (h). Directly beneath the eagle, the cap band is also stitched with an additional insignia consisting of a dark slate-grey cotton backer bearing a machine-embroidered tricolour cockade, measuring 35 mm (w) x 35 mm (h). The cockade notably demonstrates factory-original zig-zag stitching. A multi-piece blue-grey cotton liner fully encompasses the interior. Stamped onto the left side of the liner in black ink is a size mark of “57” and an additional mark of “BKL. WERKE OST/HALLE”, indicating manufacture by a member of a Halle-based clothing consortium. The cap measures approximately 265 mm (l) x 125 mm (h) when folded on a flat surface. Demonstrating only minor exterior soiling, this scarce cap is in an overall extremely fine condition.