Germany, NSDAP. A Political Leader’s Visor Cap, Reich Level

(NSDAP Schirmmütze). A very well-preserved NSDAP Political Leader’s visor cap, constructed of smooth light brown wool. It features reinforced side walls, with the exterior of the walls bearing a smooth brown doeskin cap band. Bands of lemon-yellow piping adorn both the top and bottom of the cap band, as well as the circumference of the crown, indicating Reich level personnel. Pinned into the peak of the cap is an insignia in the form of a gilded aluminum alloy NSDAP-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle measures 65 mm (w) x 33 mm (h), and retains its three reverse attachment prongs and almost all of its original gilt finish. Pinned into the cap band underneath the eagle is a cockade and wreath, with the former consisting of a red enameled medallion within gilded bronze frame, bearing a raised and ribbed medallion with a central black mobile swastika. The latter consists of a gilded bronze oak leaf wreath, with the insignia measuring 105 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). The cap is flanked on each side by a gilded bronze button, securing in place a decorative chinstrap constructed of fine gold bullion wire, resting upon the protruding visor. The latter is constructed of vulcanfibre and presents with a dark brown matte finish on the obverse. The interior of the cap features a brown leather sweatband 42 mm in width, securely held in place by a row of machine stitching. Rows of ventilation holes are distributed across the forehead of the sweatband. A light beige rayon-blended liner fully encompasses the interior, with a transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard stitched onto the crown. A paper inset with a pencil size mark of “58” is inserted into the moisture guard. The underside of the sweatband reveals an intact Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) label bearing a maker’s code of “4” and a secondary code of “402197”, as well as an illegible manufacturer’s code. The cap measures 234 mm (w) x 265 mm (l) x 160 mm (h). Small mothing holes are evident to the exterior wool, and there is some soiling visible to both the sweatband and interior liner,