Germany, Heer. A Rare Smoke/Chemical Troops Officer’s Visor Cap, by Schellenberg

(Heer Schirmmütze für Offizier der Nebeltruppe). A rare and extremely well-preserved Heer Smoke/Chemical Troops Officer’s visor cap, constructed of field-grey wool. The cap features reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a dark green wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the cap band are trimmed with Bordeaux-red piping, while an additional band of identical piping lines the outer edge of the crown. The latter features a contoured interior reinforcement ring which gives the cap a classic saddle appearance. Pinned onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a silvered zink Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 65 mm (w) x 30 mm (h). Directly beneath the eagle, the centre of the cap band is pinned with a multi-piece insignia consisting of a tricolour cockade constructed of aluminum and red wool, set within a silvered zink oak leaf wreath. The cap band insignia measures 75 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. Flanking the cap band are pebbled magnetic metal buttons which secure in place a chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire, adjusted with dual sliding knots. The chinstrap rests upon a protruding vulcanfibre visor, finished in a glossed black on both the obverse and reverse. The interior of the side walls is lined with a grey leatherette sweatband, measuring 48 mm in width, which is perforated by an array of ventilation holes across the forehead. It is also fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey rayon liner. Stitched onto the crown is an intact transparent plastic moisture guard retaining a fully-legible maker’s mark of “ORIGINAL SCHELLENBERG” for the Berlin-based hatmaker. The cap measures approximately 250 mm (w) x 275 mm (l) x 155 mm (h). Age-appropriate loss of finish is evident to the zink insignia, and minor spots of material fatigue are visible to both the crown’s exterior wool and interior liner. This rare cap is in an overall extremely fine condition.