Germany, Heer. A Panzer EM/NCO’s Overseas Cap, by Willy Sprengpfeil

(Heer Schiffchen für Panzertruppe). A very well-preserved Heer Panzer EM/NCO’s overseas cap, constructed of black wool twill. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side walls, which are gently scalloped at the front. It is flanked on each side by ventilation holes, both of which are reinforced with black-painted magnetic metal eyelets. Stitched onto the peak of the cap is an insignia consisting of a black rayon backer bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle insignia measures 68 mm (w) x 25 mm (h). Directly underneath the eagle, the cap bears a machine-embroidered tri-colour rayon cockade, measuring 35 mm (w) x 35 mm (h). Stitched around the cockade is a soutache in a classic Panzer rose-pink, properly looped through the reverse of the side walls. An olive-drab cotton-blended liner fully encompasses the interior. Stamped onto the right of the liner is a black ink maker’s mark of “WILLY SPRENGPFEIL, MÜTZENFABRIK, HAMBURG”, with a manufacture date of “1939”, and a size of “56”. The cap measures approximately 285 mm (l) x 125 mm (h) when folded flat. Some deterioration of the eagle insignia is visible near the joint of the left wing, along with minor material fatigue of the threading of the soutache. The cap is in an overall near extremely fine condition.