Early SS Rank Collar Tab

Product Description: This early SS rank collar tab is a great example of a tough to find piece of insignia. It’s made of typical early black SS badge cloth, folded around a textbook tan buckram stiffener. The outer edge of the tab is bordered with twisted black and silver cord piping, which is neatly hand applied to the tab edge (as is typical) using black thread. This early SS rank collar tab shows no sign of having been worn on a tunic, and is pristine, with full nap on the wool surface. The reverse of the tab shows the tan buckram reinforcement as well as the ends of the piping, carefully tucked and then stitched in place. There are no moth holes or any other damage, and only extremely slight age toning. This would pair beautifully with an early SS runic tab. It is in near mint condition.

Historical Description: Regulations for the SS Collar Tab went through quite an evolution in just a short 16-year period. The first SS Collar Tabs were introduced in 1929 by Heinrich Himmler as part of the newly introduced SS uniform code. Initially, tabs were worn by both lower rank SS men and their senior leaders. Lower ranks would wear a rank tab as well as a numbered unit identification tab, with senior leaders wearing their rank tabs on both collars. In 1933 the well-known “SS” runic tab was adopted by Hitler’s personal bodyguard detachment, the “Leibstandarte” or “LAH”. The LAH used this runic tab in lieu of the numerical unit identification tab to identify them as members of the elite unit protecting the “Führer”. In 1934 the runic “SS” tabs were again adopted for use by the early “SS-VT” units. This adoption eventually led to the widespread use of SS runic tabs by German Divisions; the later non-German volunteer units would not be permitted to wear the runes, and bore their own unit designed patch instead. SS Collar tabs can be found in an extraordinary variety of numbers, designs, and pipings depending on unit and rank, from hand-embroidered tabs worn by officers to mass produced embroidered and machine woven types that were used on combat uniforms.

We are the leading team of military antique specialists. We have specialized in military antiques for over 25 years.

Epic Artifacts offers free evaluations and the highest prices available for your collectibles.

We purchase single items, entire collections, or family estates.

Click the link here to learn more: Free Evaluation or Inquiries 

or feel free to email us directly: info@epicartifacts.com