Netherlands, Kingdom. A Dutch Police Kepi by J.P. Mol

(Politie Kepie). This is a very well-preserved Dutch Police/Gendarmerie kepi, constructed of a smooth black wool with reinforced cardboard shell. The peak is adorned with a braided and woven cockade composed of five ribbed layers of off-white material completing in a central dark green oval. The cockade is held in place at the top by a hook that is fastened into the liner of the kepi, and at the bottom by a gilded bronze button. The kepi is flanked by buttons of identical construction holding in place a black leather chinstrap, complete with a metal buckle, which rests upon the visor when not in use. The visor itself is constructed of lacquered vulcanfibre, painted black on the obverse and forest green on the reverse. The kepi bears dual ventilation holes on the right and left sides, each reinforced by a black magnetic metal eyelet. The interior has a 47 mm-wide brown leather sweatband securely stitched into the lining. The interior is completed by a brown rayon liner, the top of which is clearly stamped “J.P. Mol, Breda”, topped by the coat of arms of the Netherlands. The kepi measures approximately 180 mm (w) x 238 mm (l) x 97 mm (h). There are sporadic patches of mothing to the exterior, while the visor and sweatband have dried and cracked with age. The kepi is in an otherwise near very fine condition.