Description
CABINET PHOTOGRAPH – KAISER WILHELM II – WEARING 1. LEIB-HUSAREN-REGIMENT NR 1’s UNIFORM – MOUNTED ON HIS HORSE.
Imperial German era photographs and postcards of Kaiser Wilhelm II generally feature him in the uniforms of either the Regiment der Garde du Corps or the 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr 1. Members of these two regiments sported very unusual headdresses that were quite different from those worn by any other Imperial German Army Regiments. This particular cabinet photograph (an oversized CdV), which shows the Kaiser mounted on his horse, is no exception. The photo measures 3 ¼” x 6 .” The Kaiser is wearing a foul weather canvas cover over his busby, so its wappen and kolpak cannot be seen. [It is the first photo I have ever seen that features the Kaiser wearing a foul weather cover over his busby, although I have seen photos of him sporting a covered pickelhaube]. Its feldzeichen is stuck in place (as is correct), and he has the busby’s chin scales pulled down under his chin. His attila is a parade rather than a dienst (daily-wear) version. His cross belt, decorations, and shoulder boards are those of a Generalfeldmarschall.
The cabinet photograph’s bottom indicates that it was produced by the noted photographic house of Georg Scheppmeyer, one of Germany’s premiere studios and a purveyor to the royal household.
