118IMPU1 - Very rare Luftschiffer Litewka ( tunic). At the start of World War I the Imperial German Army had five ( 5) Luftschiffer ( airship ) battalions and one airship company. The airship troops, like the aviation units, were part of the transport troops, which consisted of railway, telegraph, motorized and all avaiation units. In October 1916 the flying troops, the airship troops and the air defense were combined to to form the "Luftstreitkrafte" or aerial forces which separated from the transport troops. The airship units, like their fixed-winged cousins, were in their infancy and required various specialists and numerous volunteers from the multitude of sources. The airship units, like the flying units, allowed those qualified to wear their former service uniforms within the air service. The airship service drew its ranks from the Infantry, Hussars, Dragoon, Engineers, etc. Although the airship service ( formed 1901) predated the flying service ( formed 1912) neither the army or naval units had a qualification badge until August 1920. The bullion badge embroidered on the tunic was added after WWI. The featured Luftschiffer officer tunic is a wartime Litewka ( Lithuanian in origin), the working tunic, like the kleiner rock. The parent regiment would be any regiment that displayed red piping ( here shown on the front closure, front and lower edge of the collar and edge of the cuffs) and blue tabs with copper/yellow color buttons. The litewka was favored tunic with officers of all branches of service because of its comfort, smart appearance being double breasted and short skirt unlike the longer uberrock or mantel. The leutnant sewn-in shoulder boards have light gray waffenfarb ( underlay ) of the Luftschiffer branch of service. On each shoulder board is the gold "L" cipher worn in wartime. On the left upper sleeve is a post-1918 added commemoration wreathed "2" likely indicating his wartime assignment with the 2nd Luftschiffer Battalion ( Berlin - Dresden 3rd Company ). It is unlikely that the "2" would commemorate service on LZ2 as the airship was "lost" in January 1906. Over the upper left breast are loops for a five place ribbon bar. Below the the loops for the ribbon bar is another set of loops to accommodate the Iron Cross 1st Class. The extremely rare bullion hand-embroidered airship badge is displayed on the lower left front. The Army version of the airship badge was without the imperial crown on the wreath. Whereas, the naval version displayed the crown. The interior is lined with gray/green cotton material. It is of interest to note where the lining was opened in order to embroider the bullion airship badge directly to the Litewka. Very rare. $7750. More Photos

113H7 - Imperial Prussian Stelldertretter ( acting officer) Tschapka of the 2nd Garde Ulan Rgt. This rare tschapka features the large gilt Prussian state eagle wappen with a non-enameled Garde Star indicating an acting officer. The Prussian Garde regiment motto 'Suum Cuiqui' is on the central Garde Star along with the Prussian eagle that is affixed to the larger gilt wappen. The black leather body is in excellent plus condition with leather shell having no serious distractions or repairs. The officer's gilt chinscales match the gilt of the wappen and are attached to the tschapka's body with the Prussian kokarde on the right side. The top morter board is in excellent condition and the attached officer's bullion kokarde is of a larger size and higher quality. The leather visor is bordered with a gilt edge that matches the chinscales and wappen. The interior displays a complete officer quality leather sweatband that is in near mint condition. A silk officer's "clamshell' liner opens to reveal the size 57 ½. There are no additional holes that would indicate that the wappen or attaching hardware has been tampered with. The 2nd Prussian Garde Regiment served on the eastern front and few of these have been made available. $9500. More Photos

104H3 - Imperial Prussian non-commissioned pickelhaube. This helmet features a silvered zinc frontplate (wappen) with the Prussian state eagle clutching a scepter and crown. Silvered fittings on Prussian helmets were commonly worn by pionier (combat engineer) units. The crown of this leather helmet displays a vented enlisted fixed spike mounted on an enlisted/nco silver baseplate. The silver chinscales perfectly match the other silver helmet fittings. The chinscales are attached to the sides of the helmet with two bolts. Under one of the bolts is a rosette with the national colors. The other rosette displays the state colors of Prussia, black and white. The black lacqured shell shows normal age crazing and wear. The front leather visor has a silvered zinc trim. The metal spine that descends from the spike's baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is secure. The interior features a complete standard enlisted/nco leather liner with drawstring. On the underside of the front and back visors is written in ink, " Brought back from France by Fred Roberts 1917 -18….". $2999. More Photos

102H3 - Prussian Cuirassier (mounted jagers) enlisted helmet. This lobstertail helmet worn by mounted heavy and light Prussian cavalry was first introduced in 1915. The silver plated iron helmet features a large Prussian frontplate (wappen) with the zinc Prussian eagle. The enlisted style leather chinstrap is secured to each side by a rosette plate with a kokarde with the German national colors on one side and the state colored black and white kokarde indicating Prussia on the other. At the top appears a tall zinc vented non-removable spike that is secured to an enlisted style baseplate. The front visor is trimmed with silvered zinc. The highly stylized lobstertail neck guard is composed of three silvered iron scales that extend downward from the rear of the helmet. The underside of the lobstertail is laminated and in excellent condition. The interior features a light brown supple leather lining that opens at the crown revealing the ventilation hole and attaching bolt hardware for the spike baseplate. The maker's stamp is clearly visible revealing the name "Lachmann Berlin" and the date "16". The helmet's size approximately 55. All the interior bolts are present and original to the helmet.. There are no dents or dells. The helmet is in overall excellent plus condition. $4599. More Photos

102H4 - Imperial Prussian enlisted pickelhaube. This helmet features a zinc frontplate (wappen) with the Prussian state eagle clutching a scepter and crown. The crown of this leather helmet displays a vented enlisted removable spike mounted on an enlisted baseplate. The leather chinstrap shows age and use. This chinstrap is attached to the sides of the helmet with two bolts. Under one of the bolts is a rosette with the national colors. The black lacqured shell shows normal age crazing and wear. The lacquer finished leather is in very good condition having no serious detractions. The front leather visor has a zinc trim that has a single split. The metal spine that descends from the spike's baseplate to the edge of the rear visor is loose but secure. The interior features a complete standard enlisted leather liner with drawstring. The interior shell is maker stamped with the size "56 ½". Along the back neck visor is written the name "Voigt" and unit 5/434. $725. More Photos

101H4 - Imperial German Pickelhaube for Saxon reserve officer with parade trichtor. This helmet features a large, starburst frontplate (wappen) with the gilt coat-of-arms of Saxony superimposed over a silvered Maltese Cross below a gilt crown. The silvered Maltese Cross differentiates the helmet as being that of a reserve officer's. The gilt brass officer chinscales are secured to each side by a plate with a rosette with the German national colors on one side and the state colored green rosette of Saxony on the other. At the top appears a tall, fluted spike that is secured to an officer's style baseplate having four stars. For full dress occasions a trichtor (plume of horsehair or feathers) was attached to the spike. This helmet features a trichtor of red dyed horsehair worn by officer musicians. The black lacquered leather helmet body is in excellent condition having a deep black patent leather finish free of cracks retaining a degree of its original glossy appearance. The front visor is trimmed with polished brass. The rear neck visor shows minor use around the edge. A gilt brass spine extends from the top center of the helmet to the center of the back neck visor. The interior features a moiré silk lining that opens in a clamshell design giving ventilation and access to the attaching bolt hardware that affixes the fluted spike and officer's baseplate at the helmet's crown. The helmet's size is approximately 57 1/2. All the interior bolts are present and original to the helmet. There are no additional holes present that would indicate the helmet has ever been tampered with. The helmet's full width officer's leather sweatband is complete and shows light period wear. There is a name written on the sweatband that has been blackened out. This pickelhaube is an exceptional offering in overall excellent condition. $4350. More Photos

098SO1 - Saxon Garde-Reiter- Rgt. (Die Sachsischen Schweren Reiter) reserve officer’s ceremonial parade helmet with travel box. This lobstertail helmet worn by reserve officers of the Saxon Heavy Cavalry was first introduced in 1907. The tombak helmet features a large, starburst helmet plate (wappen) with the gilt coat-of-arms of Saxony superimposed over a silvered Maltese Cross below a gilt crown. The silvered Maltese Cross differentiates the helmet as being that of a reserve officer’s. The gilt brass officer chinscales are secured to each side by a plate with a kokarde with the German national colors on one side and the state colored green kokarde of Saxony on the other. At the top appears a tall, fluted and vented spike that is secured to an officer’s style baseplate. For full dress occasions the spike was removed and replaced with a silver lion. The highly stylized lobstertail neck guard is composed of three tombak scales that extend downward from the rear of the helmet. The underside of the lobstertail is laminated and in excellent condition. The interior features a moiré silk ling that opens in a clamshell design giving ventilation and access to the attaching bolt hardware that affixes the fluted spike and officer’s baseplate at the helmet’s crown. Affixed to the moiré silk lining is a single brass initial “S”. The helmet’s size 57 is stamped in the tombak. All the interior bolts are present and original to the helmet. The helmet’s full width officer’s leather sweatband is complete and shows light period wear. There are no dents or dells. There is a tiny crack present on the right side of the helmet body which shows signs of a period repair. However, the helmet is in overall excellent plus condition. Accompanying the helmet is the original travel box. The box is conical in shape with a flat top. Made of wood and covered with black lacquered fabric, the box is secured with supple and functional leather straps and buckles. The interior is lined with golden-yellow silk and is in excellent condition. The original maker’s label is affixed to the box’s base. The exterior of the travel box shows normal wear having several areas of minor loss of the black lacquer finish. This helmet and box set is an exceptional offering in overall excellent condition. $18,500. More Photos

0812H1 - Pickelhaube for an enlisted Prussian Dragoon. This rare, pre-World War I model 1882 helmet's wappen (frontplate) features a "wide-winged" Prussian eagle. The spike finial mounting plate indicates enlisted rank with excellent gilt finish. The black leather body shows normal age crazing. The chin scales are in original and excellent condition. The two side kokarden further indicate a Prussian helmet. The front visor is brass trimmed and tight to the leather. The interior features a factory machine stitched to the body leather sweatband. This band is is supple and in very good-excellent condition. The wappen, spine, kokarden and finial plate (spike mounting plate) are all attached with metal hardware. This is a very fine and highly collectible example. Rare. $1750.  More Photos

0812H3 - Pickelhaube for enlisted man from Baden. This helmet features a pewter Griffin on the helmet's front plate . All the metal hardware (finial, frontplate, back spineattachments for the kokarden and visor trim) all match for age and wear. The chinstrap is a replacement. The interior is stamped BA XI (?) and dated 1910. The size is 56. Nice example. $925.  More Photos

0812H4 - Prussian World War I enlisted pickelhaube. This helmet's pewter wappen features the Prussian Imperial eagle clutching the scepter and crown. All the exterior metal fiting show consistent age and wear. The leather chinstrap is a replacement. The black leather body shows normal age crazing. The interior features a complete leather liner in excellent condition. The rear leather neck apron is maker stamped, "HUGO BARUSCH..1915." $950. More Photos