A Wehrmacht Officer's Tote Case by Arndt & Lehmann

Leather with a smooth brown finished upper and a natural raw underside, constructed with two basic compartments. The front compartment is emboss stamped "D.R.P." (Deutsche Reichspost) and the manufacturer's name "ARNDT & LEHMANN BERLIN" at the upper left. It is hinged at the right and folds open to reveal two panels covered in yellow plastic, its edges stitched with reinforcing gray leather strips, with dual snap closures along the open top edge. There is a patch of yellowish-brown pressed felt stitched to the left side panel along the upper seam. The yellow panels contain five measuring squares in various gradations, all with voided centres, four of which are fabricated from plastic, the other is fabricated from metal and is painted yellow on the front, with the gradations in black and exhibiting extensive rusting, especially on its reverse. The rear section of the case has a large pouch, with seven individual sleeves for writing instruments and two insert sleeves stitched to its front, but all are without items. It contains an olive green canvas pouch with dual black snap closures. There is a small sleeve stitched in place on the front of the canvas pouch, housing two plastic squares in various gradations: one with a voided centre, the other is solid. Its interior is lined in gray cotton with a matching central divider, housing two large plastic plates: one is rectangular with sweeping arched ends, marked "Windrichtung in Windziffern" (Wind Direction in Wind Digits); the other is rectangular with a grid and directional markings, with two "x's" marked on it, marked "Zielgevierttafel" (Target Square Panel) and maker marked and dated "GEBR. WICHMANN m.b.H. 1933". All hardware on the pouch is fabricated from metal and is magnetic. The exterior of the leather pouch has a securing flap with dual snap closure along the bottom and a weather flap along the top, that folds over to ensure protection of the contents inside, with a strap with metal tab on the right side that feeds laterally into a central u-shaped loop protruding from a slotted oval plate riveted to the flap. The loop is affixed to an oval plate on the front of the pouch, this second plate also riveted in place, with the bottom rivet having separated from the body of the pouch and the underlying oval plate slightly loose. The leather shoulder strap is attached at the rear of the pouch via two D-rings, which are held in place by two leather tabs, each tab held in place by two brown painted rivets fed through the reverse of the pouch. The strap is has eight slots at one end, the securing post for length adjustment on the strap fed through the first and seventh holes, the other end of the strap tied in a knot around the D-ring. The pouch measures 200 mm x 290 mm x 32 mm when folded and enclosing its contents, exhibiting light soiling on the canvas pouch, paint chipping present on the four brown painted rivets on the reverse, aging evident in the leather overall. Better than very fine.