Rare WWII USCG SPARS Officer Hat Made From USN WAVES Officer Hat

Rare WWII United States Coast Guard SPARS Officer hat made from a United States Navy WAVES officer hat. The front features a black wool felt tab for affixing the hat badge, a beautiful, high-detail gilt sterling example made by H & H. The inside of the hat shows tags that read: "MADE AND SOLD UNDER AUTHORITY OF U.S. NAVY W. A. V. E. S.", "MADE AND SOLD UNDER AUTHORITY OF U.S. NAVY U.S. WOMEN'S NAVAL RESERVE", "WOMEN'S NAVAL RESERVE", and "W. A. V. E. S. CONTRACT NO. 105", "21 ??". SPARS is a play on the Coast Guard motto: Semper Paratus - Always Ready and during WWII SPARS enlistment began, the women's enlistment allowed men to leave positions stateside to fight overseas.

Circa WWII

Approximately "21-1/2" and Measures: Ear to ear: 6-1/2" Front to back: 7-1/4"

Wool, wool felt, silk, vinyl, brass, gilt sterling

Hat badge: double post with screwbacks

"H&H" maker mark "FASTENER CO. USA" on brass; "MADE AND SOLD UNDER AUTHORITY OF U.S. NAVY W. A. V. E. S.", "MADE AND SOLD UNDER AUTHORITY OF U.S. NAVY U.S. WOMEN'S NAVAL RESERVE", "WOMEN'S NAVAL RESERVE", and "W. A. V. E. S. CONTRACT NO. 105", "21 ??" on tags inside hat

This is from a Spars USCG collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. TRBJX15 TRVAJJX15 LBIEX11/15

7+ (Very Fine+): The hat shows minor to moderate wear, the hat badge shows moderate wear, some of the gilt details remain intact, small moth nip on side of hat, does not detract, overall very fine condition.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.