Prussian Officer of the 1st Garde a Foot Regiment

Prussian 1st Guard Regiment of Foot — 1st Battalion and Battalion Staff - Officer Model 1897. From the Rich Ames Collection. Black lacquered leather helmet body with German Silver trim. Helmet is “Salty” with age and has never been cleaned or polished. Leather helmet body has fine form and firm stitching. No extra holes in the helmet body. The helmet interior has sweat leather and silk headliner. Interior visors colored red and green. Round type silver spike base mounted with silver Officer stars. The spike top is the “Prussian” style fluted spike that does not overlap the edge of the spike base.

The frontplate is a silver Prussian Guard Eagle with a silver star of the Prussian Black Eagle Order with enameled center on the breast of the Eagle. Above the Eagle head is the silver metal banner with the motto “Semper Talis“ written on it. The frontplate is held to helmet body with screws. The banner is held to body with screw that fits through the hole of the front spike base star (see photos). Silver flat chinscales that are secured by silver rosettes. Officer style Prussian and Reichs cockades. This helmet appears to be 100% original and untouched.

Over all condition shows age and use. As with all Rich Ames’ helmets, he always kept them in “as found” condition. This is the ultimate of rarity for the helmet collector. This regiment was the highest status unit in the German Army. All the Imperial “Royals” served in this regiment. It had an over abundance of officers due to its status. During the early days of WWI this regiment was given the lead in the attack on France and Belgium. In the Honor RANKLIST in 1920 it listed the large number of casualties this unit suffered in August and September 1914. Extremely RARE and valuable historical helmet.