This is an original U.S. Navy officer’s visor cap from the World War II era. The cap was produced by S.W. Rice (Annapolis, Pensacola, Quantico), one of the popular suppliers of uniforms for the U.S. Navy.

It features the classic silhouette with an olive-drab wool crown and a black mohair band. On the front is the large officer’s U.S. Navy insignia — a gold bullion embroidered eagle clutching a fouled anchor, with a shield on its chest. The embroidery shows natural signs of age, emphasizing the authenticity and wartime production of the piece.

The visor is made of black lacquered leatherette with characteristic age-related cracking. A gold bullion chinstrap is attached with side Navy officer buttons bearing the eagle-and-anchor motif. The interior has a leather sweatband and is marked with the maker’s logo S.W. Rice, along with a paper name tag identifying the owner: Mr. Paul A. Mowbray.

An additional detail is the woven ventilation insert beneath the lining, a feature typical of pre-war and early wartime examples.

Such caps were a required part of both service and dress uniforms for U.S. Navy officers. They were worn aboard ships as well as on shore duty, and became one of the most recognizable elements of American naval officers’ attire during World War II.