*British, c.1930s–1950s, Royal Navy HMS Dryad Cap Tally, Black Silk Ribbon with Woven Gilt Lettering*
An attractive and increasingly hard-to-find original Royal Navy cap tally for HMS Dryad, retaining its traditional tied bow and woven gilt lettering reading “H.M.S. DRYAD.” This is the earlier style of tally with full stops between the initials, a feature typically associated with interwar to early post-war production and far more desirable than later synthetic examples.
Approx. Measurements – Length: 60 cm.
HIstory Note:
HMS Dryad was one of the Royal Navy’s best-known shore establishments, operating as a “stone frigate” at Southwick House near Portsmouth. It served as the Royal Navy’s principal navigation and maritime warfare training establishment and later became home to the Maritime Warfare School. Southwick House is particularly significant for its role during the Second World War, having been used as General Eisenhower’s forward headquarters during the planning and execution of the D-Day landings in 1944.
The use of full stops in “H.M.S. DRYAD” together with the woven gilt lettering is typical of earlier Royal Navy cap tallies, most commonly dating from the interwar to early post-war period (c.1930s–1950s), before later tallies adopted simplified lettering and synthetic materials. During wartime, named tallies were often replaced with plain “H.M.S.” ribbons for security reasons, making named shore establishment examples particularly sought after by collectors.
*Condition*
Original tied example with some small pin holes and light age-related wear to the ribbon body, together with minor marks from previous display or storage. Lettering remains clear and attractive with good overall display presence. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
JAQ#3215E_8595238591
