Germany, Luftaffe. A Tropical Helmet, Rare Olive-Drab Version with Goggles, by ORL

(Luftwaffe Tropenhelm). A very well-preserved Luftwaffe Tropenhelm (tropical helmet), constructed of a rigid cork frame. The exterior is fully lined in a multi-panel, olive-drab, cotton blended exterior liner. The canister is topped by a dome, similarly lined in identical material, with three openings to facilitate ventilation. Pinned to the right side of the canister is a aluminum insignia consisting of a shield executed in a red, white (substituted with silver) and black Wehrmacht tri-colour, measuring 36 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). The left side features an additional aluminum alloy insignia in the form of a Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika, measuring 70 mm (w) x 40 mm (h). The canister transitions to a wide, flaring brim reinforced along the edge with a layer of brown leather. A band of olive-drab material covers the seam where the canister and brim meet. The interior of the canister is fully lined with a multi-piece red cotton blended liner, and is surrounded by a light brown leather sweatband. The sweatband is embossed with a maker’s mark in the form of the logo of ORL, and folds down to reveal an additional stamped ORL mark, a manufacture date of “1942”, and a size mark of “57”. Accompanied by a matching set of Wehrmacht-issue sun and dust goggles, consisting of tinted plastic lenses situated with olive-drab canvas and velvet frames and affixed to the canister with a fully-intact elasticized strap. The helmet measures approximately 27 cm (w) x 34 cm (l) x 17.5 cm (h). Minor issues consistent with age and field use are evident, and include minor material fatigue to the leather elements, some oxidation and loss of finish to the shield, and disruption to the liner indicating replacement of the former. This rare example of a Luftwaffe-issue olive-drab tropical helmet remains in an extremely fine condition.