This is an extremely rare 9th Lancers Officer's lance cap c. 1890. This Victorian era cap has a black patent leather skull and peak. Gilt metal waistband simulating rope. The mortar board top is black patent leather, the sides being ribbed melton cloth with gilt leaf corners and the angled edges covered in plain metal strips. There is a gilt coiled rope plume boss with a gilt button holding a black over white stitched swan's feather plume with a ring. Lion's head ear bosses suspend a velvet backed, gilded chin chain with design unique to the 9th. The all gilt helmet plate is also unique to the 9th and bears the Victorian crown at the top. It is centered by the reversed and interlaced cypher of Queen Adelaide in sterling silver. The plate sports battle honors to 1858. Under the crown are two oval shields with the left bearing the Royal Arms and the right the arms of Queen Adelaide. The inside is lined in red silk with a "J.B. JOHNSTONE" maker's label and a leather sweat band.

Excellent, the outside shows only very minor wear with all of the gilt components remaining bright and the silver has darkened with age. The red lining has some minor stains and the sweat band is starting to become unstitched at the rear.