Imperial German Dragoon Regiment 9 Leutnant Cypher Shoulder Board Dual Underlay

An original Leutnant’s silver-cord shoulder board (Schulterstück) of Dragoner-Regiment Nr. 9. The reverse carries a collection label reading “Fig. 5.2 – DR 9 – Post 1915.” A gilt crown above an interlaced cypher, without rank stars, denotes Leutnant; the board carries the two-colour underlay introduced in 1915.

The board is built of braided silver cord and mounted on a blue underlay carrying a white border — the two-colour, or dual, underlay introduced in 1915 to distinguish regiments more precisely in the field. The lower field carries a gilt crown above an interlaced gilt cypher. No rank star is present, marking the grade of Leutnant. A vertical button slit is worked at the head, and the squared base terminates in cut cord ends.

As dragoons, the regiment served as light cavalry, and the crowned cypher marks it as a regiment held under a royal chief. The dual underlay reflects the 1915 reform under which a second underlay colour was added to sharpen regimental identification on the field, placing this board firmly in the later war period.

The crowned monogram is an interlaced cypher beneath the crown; the precise letters are not cleanly resolved in the provided images and are therefore left unattributed. The absence of a rank star denotes the grade of Leutnant.

Condition is very good. The silver cord is bright with good braid definition, and the gilt crown and cypher are present and secure. The dual underlay is strong, the blue field and white border both clear, and the collection label is intact on the reverse. The base shows cut cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

A cyphered dragoon officer’s board carrying the documented post-1915 dual underlay appeals both to cavalry collectors and to those who follow the development of Imperial uniform regulation, making it a sound and well-documented representative piece.