Germany, NSKK. A Rare Officer’s Kepi, by Clemens Wagner

(Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps Schaftmütze für Offiziere). An extremely well-preserved Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps (National Socialist Motor Corps/NSKK) Officer’s kepi, constructed of olive-drab cotton twill. It features a flat crown, fully trimmed along the outer edge with silver aluminum wire piping. Two ventilation holes are set into each side of the crown, all reinforced with black painted magnetic metal grommets. A layer of smooth black felt surrounds the outer edge of the canister, partially covered by fold-down olive-drab cotton twill panels which fasten in place with an aluminum button, bearing a raised NSKK insignia, meeting a reinforced buttonhole on the left panel. The top edge of the former is similarly trimmed with a length of silver aluminum wire piping. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of black rayon base bearing a machine-embroidered NSKK eagle, measuring 75 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. Blackened magnetic metal buttons flank the kepi and secure in place a multi-piece black leatherette chinstrap, adjusted with dual functional magnetic metal buckles. Completing the exterior features is a protruding visor with a card stock core, fully lined in identical cotton twill. A dark brown leather sweatband surrounds the interior, which is also fully lined with a multi-piece olive-drab rayon liner. The crown retains a fully-intact transparent plastic rhomboid moisture guard bearing the “ERSTKLASSIG” maker’s mark of the firm of Clemens Wagner, Braunschweig. It is also stamped with a size mark of “55”. It measures approximately 18 cm (w) x 24 cm (l) x 13 mm (h) overall. Demonstrating no notable damage or wear, this scarce example of NSKK headgear is in an extremely fine condition.