Scouting memorabilia collecting

Scouting memorabilia collecting

[
Scouting for Boys by Lord Baden-Powell, published in January 1908, illustrated by Baden-Powell himself] Scouting memorabilia collecting is the hobby (and in many cases, the study) of preserving and cataloguing Boy Scouting and Girl Guiding items for their historic, aesthetic and monetary value. Since collecting depends on the interests of the individual collector, the depth and breadth of each collection varies. Some collectors choose to focus on a specific subtopic within their area of general interest, for example insignia issued prior to the 1970s Boy Scouts of America requirement that all insignia have either the fleur-de-lis or the acronym "BSA"; or only the [http://caballeroscout.siemprelisto.net/Programas/Marcos.htm highest ranks issued by each nation] . Others prefer to keep a more general collection, accumulating any or all Scouting merchandise, or Scouting stamps from all countries of the world.

Origins

The collecting of Scouting memorabilia likely began when Scouting was founded in Britain in 1908, though in those early years many did not think to save their items, and so much is lost to history. Early Scouters often sewed awards they had earned, as well as insignia they had traded with other Scouts, directly to woolen campfire blankets. Most of the original Scouting insignia of that period was wool itself and has not survived. Several beautiful examples of these early campfire blankets exist in the collection of the [http://www.koshare.org/ Koshare Indian Museum] in La Junta, Colorado.

Function of Scouting memorabilia

The vast bulk of Scouting items exist, first and foremost, to recognize a Scout for his or her accomplishments in Scoutcraft, to engender feelings of kinship with other Scouts similarly outfitted, and to assist in the practice of his or her Scouting. The collection of Scouting memorabilia is one of the many ways Scouting can be enjoyed, studied, and passed down through one's family. Everything pertaining to Scouting can be collected. The concept of Scouting memorabilia is not limited to cloth and metal insignia, uniforms and awards, but extends to handbooks and advancement pamphlets, postage stamps, magazines, camping equipment issued by a national Scout organization, photographs, coffee mugs, and other items. Some of these areas may overlap with other spheres of collecting, when valued for a connection to a historical event; for instance if a president signs a document related to Scouting, the pen and the document itself may both be considered related to that president as well as to Scouting.

Living history

Another aspect of collecting is that of living history. There are several individuals and groups who collect period uniforms and equipment in order to re-enact Scouting of the past. Quite popular is the portrayal of Baden-Powell, authentically costumed, reading his . Indeed, one of the Venturing (Boy Scouts of America) electives is Outdoor Living History.

Scouting memorabilia evolution

All Scout organizations periodically change the design, name, and availability of their Scouting memorabilia, depending on factors such as changes in society (such as the shift from an agrarian society to an industrial society in 20th century America, or Macedonia's change in flag twice shortly after independence), availability of materials and manufacturing processes available, merging of local districts, councils and in some cases whole organizations, and frequently just artistic whim. The participant patch (usually embroidered or woven) for the first Japanese National Scout Rally was printed on paper, because of the financial situation of that time. Period pieces of Japanese Scouting memorabilia from the U.S. occupation period of Japan are rare and highly prized, often fetching upward of U.S. $1,000.00.

Organizations and resources for collectors

Many organizations around the world are dedicated to accumulating and disseminating information on various Scouting memorabilia. The Scout collecting organizations Scouts on Stamps Society International (SOSSI), the [http://www.intbc.org/ibc/index.php International Badgers Club] , the Scouting Memorabilia Club of Japan, the [http://www.scouttrader.org/ International Scouting Collectors Association] , the [http://www.scoutalog.com/ Scout Memorabilia Collectors of Canada] and the [http://www.geocities.com/rustyvanreeves/bbindex.html American Scouting Historical Society] are a few of the resources available to collectors of Scouting memorabilia.

Many collectors guides and buyers' guides have been published since the first ASTA Blue Book in 1959, among the most well-known are the Arapaho series, which deal with locality-specific Boy Scouts of America insignia.

Scout memorabilia as business

Only relatively recently has the concept of marketing such items for monetary gain come into play, though modern Scout councils have become rather market savvy and now often produce collectibles, items meant primarily and specifically for collectors, serving no other Scouting purpose. Some even later destroy remainders of such items to cause forced scarcity, artificial rarity which many see as depriving later or less-monied collectors of the possibility of filling a collection from their unit, regional division or area of interest. For merchants of Scout memorabilia, the Society of Scout Memorabilia Dealers serves as an umbrella organization.

See also

* Collecting
* History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America)
* International Scouting Collectors Association
* Patch collecting
* Scout badge
* Scouting memorials
* Scouting museums
* Souvenir

External links and references, by country or region

Australia

* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/australianscouts/ Australian Scouts Yahoo group]

Canada

* [http://scoutalog.com/ The Canadian Scouting Catalogue]
* [http://www.canbadge.com/ Images of badges listed by the Canadian Badger's Club]

Caribbean

* [http://www.angelfire.com/fl/thetrader/csj/ Patches and memorabilia of the Caribbean Scout Jamborees]

Cyprus

* [http://www.scouts82.com/eurojam/badges.htm Scouting in Cyprus] dead link|date=March 2008

Germany

* [http://abzeichen.irmer.org/ Andreas' Badge Collection]
* [http://www.pfadfinderabzeichen.de/ Virtual Badge Collection]

Ireland

* [http://www.irishscoutbadges.com/ Irish Scout Badges]

Japan

*the Scouting Memorabilia Club of Japan, organized in 2003 with more than 65 member Scouters throughout Japan.

Netherlands

* [http://home.wanadoo.nl/stefpoolen/ Scout pages]

New Zealand

* [http://www.nzscoutbadge.com/ Virtual picture catalog of New Zealand Scout Badges]
* [http://www.biznet.net.nz/badgers/ IBC New Zealand Section (Scout and Guide Badge Club)]
* [http://www.rockhoppers.net/telys/badges/ index of New Zealand Scout and Guide Badges]

Portugal

* [http://www.cpcoe.org/ Portuguese Scout Club of Collectors]

pain

* [http://tejones.scouts-es.net/ Spanish Badgers Club]
* [http://elwebdelleonamistoso2.iespana.es/ Spanish Scout insignia]

United Kingdom

* [http://www.johnrhoggarth.co.uk/ Scout memorabilia]

United States of America

* [http://www.eaglescoutbadge.com/ BSA Badge Identification Guide]
* [http://www.sageventure.com/history/ BSA Badge History]
* [http://www.scoutpatchwiki.org Scout patch wikipedia covering history, usage, and other reference material]

by topic

* [http://councilstrip.com/ Council/Jamboree Shoulder Strip Patches]
* [http://www.shoulderbank.com/ Council/Jamboree Shoulder Patches]
* [http://home.austin.rr.com/elspanko/patchcamp.html Scout Patch Collector's Base Camp]
* [http://www.scoutbuckles.com/ Scout belt buckles from all over around the world]
* [http://www.ScoutTrader.org/ International Scouting Collectors Association]
* [http://www.terra.es/personal6/jdm00016/ Air Scout badges]
* [http://www.sageventure.com/coins/ World Scout Coins]
*
* [http://www.colxn.com http://www.colxn.com] Online Collectibles Encyclopedia


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Scouting museums — Throughout the world there are many museums related to Scouting dedicated to preserving, communicating, and exhibiting the heritage of the Scouting movement for purposes of study, education, and enjoyment of society. A downloadable world… …   Wikipedia

  • Scouting memorials — Throughout the world there are many Scouting memorials, monuments and gravesites.Africa*Baden Powell grave Wajee Nature Park, Nyeri, Kenya, near *Baden Powell Paxtu Cottage On the grounds of the Outspan Hotel , Nyeri, Kenya… …   Wikipedia

  • Patch collecting — or badge collecting (also, scutelliphily, from Latin scutellus meaning little shield , and Greek phileein meaning to love ) is the hobby of collecting souvenir patches or badges. ouvenir patchesSouvenir patches are usually shield shaped, and… …   Wikipedia

  • International Scouting Collectors Association — The International Scouting Collectors Association (ISCA) is a non profit volunteer organization that promotes education regarding the history of the Scouting Movement through the collecting and trading of Scouting memorabilia.ISCA official… …   Wikipedia

  • Order of the Arrow — Owner …   Wikipedia

  • List of collectibles — Popular collectibles listed here are primarily those described in Wikipedia articles:Architectural*Fireplaces *Furniture *Hardware *Lighting, Lamps, Lampshades *Locks Keys *TilesArt*Artifacts *Folk Art *Native American Art *Photographs… …   Wikipedia

  • Scout badge — Scout Badges are worn on the uniforms of members of Scouting organisations across the world in order to signify membership and achievements. There is a great variety of badges, not only between the different national Scouting organisations, but… …   Wikipedia

  • Scouts on Stamps Society International — Since the advent of Scouting in 1907, Scouts have been depicted on the postage stamps of almost every nation during different times of their political development.The Scouts on Stamps Society International, or SOSSI was created as a response to… …   Wikipedia

  • History of merit badges (Boy Scouts of America) — For history regarding individual merit badges, see Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America). Merit badge Owner Boy Scouts of America …   Wikipedia

  • Cub badges in Scouts Canada — Scouts Canada s Wolf Cub program offers badges to youth members as a mark of achievement in an interest area. The badges are grouped into six activity areas as described in The Cub Book (Scouts Canada, 2005). While youth experience fun and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”