World War I U.S. Navy White Sailor Hat Cap with Original WWI Panoramic Photograph of Wearing This Exact Hat, Both Objects c. 1917–1919, *Free Shipping

Authentic World War I U.S. Navy White Sailor Hat Cap with Original WWI Panoramic Photograph of Adrain Wearing This Exact Hat, c. 1917–1919, *Free Shipping

This rare and fascinating World War I sailor's hat set consists of Adrain’s original U.S. Navy enlisted white sailor hat together with the extraordinary original panoramic WWI photograph of his recruit company taken when he first joined the Navy.

Most importantly, Adrain is photographed here wearing this very hat. The photograph and hat have remained together in my family, and the inside of the white sailor's hat is stamped A. C. Henry three times. The photograph therefore gives us the unusual opportunity to see the original owner actually wearing the surviving piece of his World War I uniform.  This is an incredibly rare find for serious WWI collectors.

The original panoramic photograph is remarkable in its own right. Measuring more than 45 inches long, it shows Adrain among the sailors of his recruit company posed outside their barracks. Look closely at the background and there is a particularly delightful detail: other sailors can be seen leaning from and waving through the barracks windows behind the assembled company.

The photograph shown in this listing with a pointer identifying Adrain in the photograph is an annotated digital image only. The pointer does not appear on the original photograph and has simply been added so that Adrain can be found easily within the very large group. The original photograph itself has no such annotation.  There are no marks whatsoever on the front or back of the photographic image. 

A small identifying mark appears in the lower right corner of the photograph. It appears likely to relate to the photographic negative or to the identification of the group, although I have not been able to determine its precise meaning.

The original black-and-white panoramic photograph is exceptionally sharp across its remarkable length, allowing individual sailors, uniforms, faces, and details of the buildings behind them to be seen clearly. Nothing is written or marked on the reverse.

The hat is the traditional white cotton enlisted sailor hat worn by U.S. Navy sailors during this period. Contemporary Navy uniform history identifies the World War I enlisted white hat as a white cotton drill hat. The surviving hat offered here retains its original shape and shows the expected evidence of actual wear and service. Inside, A. C. Henry is stamped three times.

This hat and photograph belong to the same family grouping as Adrain’s World War I U.S. Navy Gunner’s Mate First Class uniform and original canvas duffel bag, which are being offered separately. Adrain’s name also appears on those surviving pieces. Together, the objects and photograph preserve an unusually personal record of one sailor’s World War I Navy service.

A printout containing the family provenance and the information presented in this listing will be supplied to the new owner so that the history remains with the hat and photograph.

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Condition

The original panoramic photograph is in very good to excellent antique condition, particularly considering its extraordinary length and age. The image remains amazingly sharp throughout.

There is a small chip at the lower left corner. There are also several small holes where the photograph appears at some time to have been hung on a wall, possibly with thumbtacks. These are visible upon examination but do not detract significantly from the remarkable image.  There is one small area where the top layer of photographic emulsion has been damaged. Please refer to the photographs attached.  This is only obvious upon very close inspection.

The photograph has been preserved in archival framing until now. It remains very supple rather than brittle and has no writing or other information on the reverse.  It is no longer framed.

For shipment, the photograph will be very loosely rolled and placed together with the hat in a large box. It will not be tightly rolled, folded, or creased, and the hat will be protected so that neither piece is damaged in transit.

The white sailor hat is in very good antique condition, with overall soiling and areas of staining from age and use, all shown in the photographs. It has been left exactly as found and has not been cleaned or altered. I believe that some of the soiling may respond to treatment by a professional textile conservator, but I have made no attempt to clean it.

Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description. If you have further questions, please let me know.

Measurements

Please note, all measurements are approximate.

Panoramic photograph:

Length: 45 1/4 in. (115 cm)

Width: 7 3/8 in. (18.7 cm)

Sailor hat:

Interior head circumference: approximately 22 in. (56 cm)

Provenance for both objects:

The hat and panoramic photograph are family heirlooms and have never previously been on the open market.

Adrain was born into my family, originally from France, whose surname was originally Henri. When his branch of the family immigrated to the United States, the surname was changed from Henri to Henry, although Henri has always been the original family spelling. Adrain is also the correct spelling of his given name, not a typographical error; it is the spelling recorded on his birth certificate and within the surviving family material.

The inside of this Navy hat is stamped A. C. Henry three times.  Please refer to the photographs.

The accompanying original panoramic photograph was taken when Adrain first joined the U.S. Navy and shows his recruit company assembled outside their barracks. Adrain is shown wearing the hat offered in this listing. The annotated listing image includes a pointer solely to identify him within the large group; that pointer does not appear on the original photograph.

Adrain’s surviving World War I Navy uniform and canvas duffel bag are being offered separately. His name also appears on those pieces, allowing the hat, photograph, uniform, and duffel to be connected through both family provenance and surviving identification markings.

A printed copy of this provenance and the accompanying research will be included for the new owner.