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This guide covers sets and series of Boy Scout postcards published in
the United States other than those issued by the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA).
See also: Postcards Issued by the BSA - Part 1
Between 1907 and 1916, several companies tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Scouting movement by branding their products with the name "Scout" and using graphic images of Boy Scouts to promote their merchandise. In 1916, the Boy Scouts of America received a congressional charter that granted the organization exclusive rights to the term “Boy Scout,” the uniforms, and the insignia. The BSA protected this right by very aggressively pursuing all infringements. As a result, any privately printed series of cards that were issued after 1916 were relatively short-lived. In spite of this, there are several very attractive series of postcards published both before and after that date.
(01) The Scout Gum Company of Rochester, NY: 1914. (12 cards)
(03) The Commercial Colortype Company of Chicago, IL: c. 1915. (36 cards)
(04) Gartner and Bender: c. 1915 (6 cards)
(05) Series #265 – The Boy Scout and the Campfire Girl: c. 1917 (20 cards)
(06) Scoutoons, Lawrence Co., NY: 1930’s (total number of cards unknown.)
Note: Two series of postcards published by the Merin Studios of Philadelphia, PA for the National Jamborees in 1950 and 1957, although not issued by the BSA, appear to have been issued under license of the BSA. Because they are usually assumed to be official cards, they are listed in Part 2 of the Guide to Sets and Series Issued by the BSA.
See also:
Collecting Boy Scout Postcards From the United States
Postcards Issued by the BSA: Sets and Series
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Stan Lipson
See also: Postcards Issued by the BSA - Part 1
Between 1907 and 1916, several companies tried to capitalize on the popularity of the Scouting movement by branding their products with the name "Scout" and using graphic images of Boy Scouts to promote their merchandise. In 1916, the Boy Scouts of America received a congressional charter that granted the organization exclusive rights to the term “Boy Scout,” the uniforms, and the insignia. The BSA protected this right by very aggressively pursuing all infringements. As a result, any privately printed series of cards that were issued after 1916 were relatively short-lived. In spite of this, there are several very attractive series of postcards published both before and after that date.
(01) The Scout Gum Company of Rochester, NY: 1914. (12 cards)
The Scout Gum Company copyrighted and
published a series of twelve numbered postcards depicting Scouts
engaged in various activities. The drawings for the attractive
multicolored chromolithograph cards were all executed by H. C. Edwards
whose signature is visible in most of the pictures.
The backs of the cards, in brown, each
contain a number, a title, a brief paragraph describing the activity,
and a trademark notice for "Scout".
Like many advertising
giveaways, the postcards were printed on cheap card stock that
deteriorates easily. It is very difficult to find examples in
excellent condition without chipped edges or corners.
The Boy Scouts of America did not authorize these cards, and they were not available for long after 1916.
Search eBay for: Scout Gum Cards
(02) Inter Art Company: c. 1914 (6 cards)Search eBay for: Scout Gum Cards
These cards were printed and sold in
England but a separate edition was available in the United
States. All cards have an inscription on the back indicating the
“Scout Series,” the card number from #444 to #449, and "Printed in
England." The cards manufactured for sale England have a second
line with "Inter-Art Co., Southampton House, London, W.C."
This early war time series has a
patriotic theme and includes a distinctive red, white, and blue striped
border. Each card is signed by Fred Spurgin, a well known and
popular British post card illustrator.
Search eBay for: Inter-Art Scout Cards (This will find Fred Spurgin's beautiful British Boy Scout postcards as well!)
Search eBay for: Inter-Art Scout Cards (This will find Fred Spurgin's beautiful British Boy Scout postcards as well!)
(03) The Commercial Colortype Company of Chicago, IL: c. 1915. (36 cards)
A series of twelve unnumbered
monochrome cards was published by the Chicago based Commercial
Colortype Company, and each of the cards has the company's mark in the
lower left of the front of the card. From about 1905 until at
least 1916, the company was one of the most prolific printers of postcards in
the country. Their very distinctive "Post Card" can be found on
many different town views, greeting cards, humorous cards, and others,
with and without the company name. Occasionally, other Commercial
Colortype cards are found that depict Boy Scouts. They are
clearly not part of this series.
There were three identifiable printings for the cards:
- Type I - The backs of the cards were printed in reddish-brown, or
henna, ink (shown). Each carries an inscription that reads "Be
Prepared! This is the Motto of the Boy Scouts of America." This is
followed by a paragraph that gives a description that is sometimes only
loosely related to the activity depicted on the front of the cards. (12
cards)
- Type II - The backs of the cards are identical in content and in format to the cards of Type I. However, they were printed in black ink. (12 cards)
- Type III - The backs of the cards are printed in henna, but they have no inscription at all. (12 cards)
Some collectors believe that the order
given here coincides with the order of the printings: that the company
dropped the inscription when the BSA, armed with their Congressional
Charter of June, 1916 asked them to refrain from using their name.
Eventually they stopped producing the cards completely. All of the
cards are relatively rare today and to acquire a complete set requires
a great deal of persistence.
(04) Gartner and Bender: c. 1915 (6 cards)
These beautiful cards are unsigned and
the artist remains unknown although the Gartner and Bender signature on
the back makes them easy to identify. The origin of this elusive
unnumbered series of cards remains unclear. It was most probably
introduced sometime between 1912 and 1918. The cards were certainly not
issued by the BSA, and most likely they were authorized neither by that
organization nor by one of its competitors. The cards show boys in
unmistakable uniforms, but no insignia or other identifying marks are
visible, and the word "Scout", which appears in each of the
descriptions, appears to be carefully used in a generic sense. The
themes for the cards seem to come from a mixture of the Scout Law, the
Scout Slogan and requirements for various badges. In some cases the
text does not seem to fit the picture at all.
(05) Series #265 – The Boy Scout and the Campfire Girl: c. 1917 (20 cards)
The Fairman Company of Cincinnati and
New York produced a series of ten cards under their trademark "The Pink
of Perfection." The cards were later reprinted by the Gibson Art
Co. The publisher tried to circumvent the Congressional Charter
by using the word “Scout” by itself. (only on one card does “boy
Scout” appear with a lower case “b.”) The company eventually
withdrew the cards.
Each card bears a brief poem by
Florence J. Martin and a drawing signed "Relyea," (Charles M. Relyea
was a prominent illustrator of the period.) All of the scenes
show a Campfire girl dressed as an Indian maiden and/or a Boy Scout in
uniform. The back of each of the cards gives the series number --
#265.
These cards are difficult to
find. Many dealers file some under “Indians” and others under
“Military.” In addition, the “Relyea” signature is often
difficult to read for those not specifically looking for it.
Search eBay for: Charles Relyea's items.
Search eBay for: Charles Relyea's items.
(06) Scoutoons, Lawrence Co., NY: 1930’s (total number of cards unknown.)
The 1930's saw a need for inexpensive
postcards for summer camps. This was brought about by the combination
of the "great depression", a serious decline in the postcard industry,
and the rapid growth of summer camping. Reacting to this market, the
Lawrence company of New York began publishing several series of cheap
quality camp postcards. The first ("A" series) seems to have been
originally targeted specifically at Boy Scout Camps.
It was produced under the trademark
"Scoutoons," and the cards featured boys wearing stylized uniforms and
referred to Scouting terms. The later series repeated the same themes,
but without uniforms or any Scouting-specific references the cards took
on a generic appearance and, presumably, appealed to a wider audience.
The Lawrence Company also began using a generic designation,
"Camptoons." They produced similar series showing girls as well.
Cards from several of the series can be
found both as "Scoutoons" and as "Camptoons." The cards were available
from the early 1930's at least until the early 1940's. They appear to
be the direct forerunner of the generic Boy Scout Camp postcards of
1947. The same sentiments and themes can be recognized in each.
Search eBay for Scoutoons or Camptoons
Search eBay for Scoutoons or Camptoons
Note: Two series of postcards published by the Merin Studios of Philadelphia, PA for the National Jamborees in 1950 and 1957, although not issued by the BSA, appear to have been issued under license of the BSA. Because they are usually assumed to be official cards, they are listed in Part 2 of the Guide to Sets and Series Issued by the BSA.
See also:
Collecting Boy Scout Postcards From the United States
Postcards Issued by the BSA: Sets and Series
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Stan Lipson
Guide created: 08/16/06 (updated 10/17/09)
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