Paul Kaps Luftwaffe Generals Visor

[Karl S.]

Here's a interesting cap that will be in a upcoming auction. See page 230.

http://www.andreas-thies.de/kataloge/46_auktion.html

[Richard P]

Here's a interesting cap that will be in a upcoming auction. See page 230.

http://www.andreas-thies.de/kataloge/46_auktion.html

All links to the Thies Auction only go to his home page. You have to pull the photos and post them individually.

Richard

P.S. It is a screamer of a cap.

[stonemint]

All links to the Thies Auction only go to his home page. You have to pull the photos and post them individually.

Richard

P.S. It is a screamer of a cap.

Anyone able to do screen captures of it?

[stonemint]

Also is this lovely early silk-top SS visor attributed to Wolff:

[Arran]

Here it is:

[Arran]

One thing I observe right off the bat is it does have the very closely trimmed wreath/cockade I generally associate with Kaps...

[stonemint]

Thanks, Arran--I have to learn how to do that one of these days.

It is a beauty---as they are saying on the SS forum, this auction is going to be a real test of the strength of the TR collecting market.

[Leroy]

I see that the opening price on the Kaps is 10,000 Euros. Anyone have any guess what it will actually go for?

[steiner99]

One year ago it was a very nice EREL Privat LW Officer cap at HH.
That cap was much more interesting as the Kaps from Thies.

I cant imagine the Thies cap will be sold for that dream price.


Here the HH LW gen. cap.

[BenVK]

For every 50 eReL Sonderklasse General's hats, you might find one Paul Kaps and that's being optimistic.

[BenVK]

10 grand isn't unrealistic IMO. An SS Kleiderkasse Officers visor will cost about 7000 euro and they are junk compared to the quality seen here.
Stunning hat and embroidery.

[JasonA]

I don't know how the Thies bidding system works. Is 10,000 Euro the opening bid, or the estimate of what it may go for? Here in the US, auction companies typically have a low/high estimate, with the opening bid at a number less than the low estimate.

That said, this is a superb cap by a maker you don't typically see, in stellar condition. I love the liner! I'd just love to have this piece in my collection. If I had the money, I'd be bidding on this. I just have too many other things in the hopper at the moment.

Totally agree that the price is realistic. It probably could be a little more given the rare maker. But I think many have come to think of auctions as deal-centers. Places like Thies, who get high-grade items in rarity and/or condition, should be seen as high-end retailers of top quality militaria. That shift in perception may help soften the blow.

The real question is, where else are you going to find a similar visor in this condition, or how long will you have to wait for something commensurate to arise? It's just an odds game, and how much you are willing to pay. Our available inventory will only remain static for so long. Over time, it will shrink due to poor care and/or storage. These items were not made to last for hundreds of years.

J-

[Arran]

I would certainly take a Kaps over an Erel any day of the week!

[Koguryo9]

I would certainly take a Kaps over an Erel any day of the week!

What makes Kaps caps so appealing? The shape of the caps? Materials used? The construction techniques? Just because they are scarce?

Personally I just don't see where the hype comes from. :-)

[Richard P]

What makes Kaps caps so appealing? The shape of the caps? Materials used? The construction techniques? Just because they are scarce?

Personally I just don't see where the hype comes from. :-)

It is just personal taste...and most of the people who really like them own at least one, or have handled them.

Richard