Spain, Spanish State. A Captain General’s Visor Cap, Attributed to Francisco Franco, by Tusell & Camprodon

A well-preserved and historically-significant visor cap for a Capitán general (Captain General), belonging to Francisco Franco (Only Franco's visor cap had four stars). The cap is constructed of a fine-quality olive-drab wool which features an interior side wall reinforcement. Both the upper edge of the cap band and outer edge of the crown are fully trimmed with lengths of gold bullion wire piping which meet in place with vertical bands descending over the sides of the cap at the right, left, and back. Embroidered directly onto the peak is a striking insignia consisting of a Spanish Army emblem in the form of a gold bullion wire national eagle, topped by a multi-coloured crown and overlaid by a red cross. The eagle measures 4 cm (w) x 5 cm (h) overall. Directly below the eagle, the centre of the cap band features an additional embroidered Captain General’s insignia, measuring 4.5 cm (w) x 3.5 cm (h). Flanking the cap band are dual gilded magnetic metal buttons featuring raised Army insignia, securing in place a decorative gold bullion wire chinstrap. The former rests upon a protruding visor with a solid internal reinforced, fully lined in identical wool. Machine-embroidered onto the obverse of the visor is a length of gold bullion wire leaves, trimmed on the outer edge by a scalloped fringe of identical construction. The interior of the cap band is surrounded by a brown leather sweatband measuring 4 cm in width, while the interior is also fully encompassed by a white satin liner. A transparent plastic rectangular moisture guard remains intact on the crown, and covers the fully-legible maker’s mark of the Barcelona-based firm of Tusell & Camprodon, indicating high-quality construction by a renowned Spanish hatter. Notably, the interior of the moisture guard features an oval band to prevent friction from the wearer’s head wearing down the logo. A second Tusell & Camprodon logo appears on the left side of the sweatband in gilt lettering. The cap measures approximately 25.5 cm (w) x 29 cm (l) x 9.5 cm (h). Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include three small patches of mothing to the crown, some loss of gilt finish to the wire near high-contact points, and the dislodging of an interior reinforcement which formerly held the peak aloft. This rare cap from Franco’s personal estate is in an overall near extremely fine condition.