Description
This is a very fine example of a “fore & aft” cap (zweispitz) for an officer in the Kaiserliche Marine, along with his dress shoulder boards. It is the dress headdress for officers that was equivalent to a pickelhaube or busby, etc. for officers in the Imperial German Army. The storage box is an unusual shape so it can hold the cap in the bottom. The dress shoulder boards are placed on a special platform that fits over the cap, and are the first item one sees when opening the storage box. The exterior of the case has seen some extensive wear. It is in far less than perfect condition. However, it is this case that has protected the contents so well over the years. The “fore and aft” cap is in superb condition. All of its attachments and accouterments are in fine order. As we peek at the silk liner (which is also pristine), we see a gold embossed “P” displayed. On top of the case’s specially designed platform are the dress shoulder boards for a Fregattenkapitän. This rank was equivalent to a Commander (Lt. Col. in the U. S. Army, U. S. Marines, and U. S. Air Force) in the U.S. Navy.
It is a very handsome ensemble for discerning Navy collectors!
