Japanese Navy Aviation Officer Blue Piped Cap

The visor cap of an aviation officer of the Imperial Japanese Navy which is piped in royal blue above and below the black cap band (although the piping is a lighter blue color in those areas where the piping was exposed to sunlight). The front displays the nicely toned gold bullion insignia of a navy officer. The visor exhibits slight age crazing and there are small chips to the leather covering the edge of the visor. The exterior of the wool body of the cap is without holes or stains. The interior of the cap shows wear and it is lined in purple silk, and the lining is embroidered with kanji, undoubtedly the name of the officer who owned the cap. The use of colored branch piping by the Navy on its visor caps was a short lived practice and surviving examples of such caps are quite scarce.