Scout Patch Collectors

Sunday Scouting Hot Finds Newsletter December 17, 2023

A friend of mine Jason Ricker has been auctioning lots of Boy Scout paper. Old pictures, lodge programs, Region paperwork you name it. I was not sure how this stuff would go when he first started a month or so ago. But it turns out the old history that is contained in this ephemera and photographs is unique and there is a market for it.

Some of us get caught in a silo of just filling a notebook or Jensen frame with the patches that fit our checklist. But a more seasoned way to put together a display is to have the paper and pictures that backs it up. A 1950’s OA membership card from your lodge or a camp brochure from the old camps in your council that are long gone. I think there is a bit of historian in all of us Boy Scout collectors but it’s just a matter of how you build out your collection.

I know for my home lodge I have a pretty extensive collection of newsletters and programs. The same is true for the camp I grew up attending. But I’m not on the level of a Tripp Clark or Mac McLean (in my area) that are really archivists. They are the “keeper of the lists” for all things in their orbit. Thank goodness that someone is willing to document everything. I’ve lamented the fact that we don’t have a museum in our council for anyone to see this history but at least a few guys are preserving it all in private collections.

On eBay you can find 167 live auctions on Santeeswapper with some really vintage camp and event patches ending today. I am running sales in my other two eBay Stores of 20% with OApatch and Santeeswapper Store. Those sales include thousands of items so be sure and take a look.

CLICK HERE TO OPEN THE DECEMBER 17, 2023 ISSUE OF THE SCOUTING HOT FINDS NEWSLETTER