United Kingdom, Royal Navy. A Captain’s Visor Cap, c.1941

This is an extremely well-preserved Royal Navy Captain’s visor cap constructed of a heavy, high-quality black wool. The cap is surrounded by a removable black ribbon composed of a braided cotton twill, adorned at the front with a central insignia constructed of machine-embroidered gold bullion wire oak leaves with central red felt royal crown, above a silvered bronze anchor. Fixed to a padded black wool background, the insignia measures 100 mm (w) x 68 mm (h). The cap is flanked by metal buttons, covered with black woven thread, holding in place a black, plastic, adjustable chinstrap which rests upon the visor when not in use. The visor is constructed of thick vulcanfibre, covered on the obverse with smooth black wool, with two branches of oak leaves constructed of machine-embroidered gold bullion wire joining along the outer rim. The reverse of the visor is painted a rich forest green. The interior of the cap has a 45 mm-wide brown leather sweatband fully encompassing the circumference, securely held in place by a row of machine stitching. The name “H.W. Head” appears in handwriting on the left side of the sweatband. The interior completes with a dark purple rayon liner stitched in a ribbed formation. The cap is unmarked and measures approximately 264 mm in diameter, with a height of 145 mm. There is minor soiling of the interior liner, as well as wear of the reverse visor, but the cap is in an otherwise extremely fine condition.