Germany, Feuerschutzpolizei. An EM/NCO’s Visor Cap, by Georg Rieder

(Feuerschutzpolizei Schirmmütze). A well-preserved Feuerschutzpolizei EM/NCO’s visor cap, constructed of dark navy blue wool. It features reinforced side walls, fully lined on the exterior with a black doeskin wool cap band. The former is trimmed along both the top and bottom edges with carmine wool piping, with an additional band of identical piping surrounding the crown. Pinned onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a non-ferrous metal tricolour cockade with a red wool centrepiece, measuring 25 mm in total diameter. Affixed to the centre of the cap band underneath the cockade is an insignia consisting of an oval oak leaf wreath overlaid by a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 55 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). The cap band is flanked on each side by black magnetic metal buttons which secure in place a black leather chinstrap, itself adjusted with functional black magnetic metal buckles. The exterior features are completed with a protruding black vulcanfibre visor, which is finished in brown on the reverse. A 50 mm-wide brown leather sweatband fully lines the interior, and is secured in place with machine stitching. A two-piece rayon and oil cloth liner encompasses the interior. The crown retains a legible maker’s mark of “GEORGE RIEDER, MÜNCHEN”, while a paper label with a size mark of “55” is pinned to the sweatband. The cap measures approximately 245 mm (w) x 260 mm (l) x 150 mm (h). Issues consistent with age and use are evident, and include some mothing and material fatigue of the wool, deterioration of the leather features, and soiling of the interior liner. It is in an overall very fine condition.