This is an ultra rare, and certainly authentic Gold Visor cap, that was owned by one of the most infamous and notorious Nazi leaders, "Reischleiter" Rudolph Hess. This certain has to be one the most valuable and unique WWII Nazi items that Rock Island Auction has ever offered for sale or for that matter has been offered any other auction company! This is truly a "One Of a Kind" Ultra RARE item being that it was the personal property of Rudolph Hess. This cap could have been in his possession, and or on his person at all times to include when he attended all the early various Nazi party rallies and Nazi party meetings to include those in the company of Adolph Hitler himself as well as many of the other Nazi party leaders, such as Herman Goring, Sepp Deitrich, Martin Bormann, Ernest Rohm and even Himmler. This specific cap has been displayed at numerous collector shows over the last 20 years to include the prestigious Militaria Antique and Etravaganza (MAX) in Pittsburgh PA, where it along with several other items has won numerous best display awards. While Rudolph Hess needs no introduction, he is best known for his flight to England in 1941 to broker a dealer with the Allies early on to end the war. After his capture he was imprisoned and remained there until his death. However his lineage and ties to Adolph Hitler go much farther back. He was actually one of the earliest associates and supporters of Hitler and was with him during the unsuccessful Beer Hall putsch of 1923 when he was captured and imprisoned with Hitler in Spandau prison. During this time with Hitler, he served as his personal secretary and was the sole individual credited for taking the notes and dictation of Hitler's book "Mein Kampf". After their release from prison, he served as Hitler's personal adjutant and closest confidant, until 1933 when Hitler took over as Chancellor of Germany he appointed Hess as Deputy Fuhrer and later Reich Minister. This visor cap is very similar to that as worn by Hitler himself. The cap itself is made of the soft gold/brown cloth with the raised peaked point and on the front it is adorned by the Gold Nazi party eagle with out-stretched wings clutching a wreath that surrounds the Nazi Swastika. It has a dark brown visor with a darker head band, the lower section with the Nazi party pin on the front. It has gold piping around the edges and gold chin cords, held on by two gold buttons, one on each side. Inside the cap it has been fitted with a special "RZM" label inside that is ink stamped with Hess's N.S.D.A.P. party number "16" on the label itself and below that it has the N.S.D.A.P. Reichszeugmeisterel Nr. 139969 and then the standard clear celluloid makers diamond label cover was then sewn over the RZM tag.

Excellent overall. The gold/brown colored cloth is in exceptional condition with no tears, stains or damage anywhere with a nice even matching color. The gold piping around the edges is also in excellent condition, with no fraying, tears or unraveling around the edges. The darker brown felt outer cap band is also in just excellent condition with no damage anywhere with nice tight stitching overall. Inside the cap itself it is also in truly remarkable condition with a beautiful light colored cream lining with the special RZM label with the ink stamps 100% readable. The inside leather sweat band is also in exceptional condition, showing a nice light brown color overall, that is supple with tight stitching. This item is accompanied by literature from the MAX show in the fall of 1998, where this item was displayed. A truly unbelievable find that is in just remarkable condition, certainly a center piece of any WWII Nazi or German Visor cap, or memorabilia collection.