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This guide shows how to identify postcards and their variations that
belong to each of the sets and series issued by the Boy Scouts of
America (BSA) from its inception in 1910 until 1970.
For information on other cards see:
Collecting Boy Scout Postcards From the United States
The difference between a set and a series is subtle. A set of postcards, either numbered or unnumbered, was originally sold together: individual cards were not available separately. A series of cards numbered or not, is a group of postcards with a common theme that are sold individually. Since it may be difficult today for a collector to find either complete sets or complete series, this guide will treat them together.
From 1910 until 1970 the BSA issued 11 different series of postcards.
(01) The Scout Law set of 1913. (27 different cards)
(02) First Activity Cards: 1913 – 1916. (91 cards)
(03) Boy Scout Christmas Postcards: 1914 (31 cards)
The copyright notice is on the back of the card at the base of the
trees, just over the word Correspondence. The very distinctive
backs show a small group of Scouts and a leader hiking over the crest
of a wooded hill. Immediately above the spine, in a box clearly
reserved for the purpose, is the Quality Cards trademark of the A.M.
Davis Co. of Boston, Massachusetts who printed the cards. (10
cards)
Consistent with the practice of asking printers to remove trademarks
after receipt of the BSA Congressional charter in 1916, the A. M. Davis
Co. mark is missing in the second printing. There were several
subtle design changes as well. (10 cards)
Between the second and third printings, all cards underwent design
changes. The most consistent and obvious was a uniform update. The
earlier versions of the cards showed Scouts wearing the original
uniform with campaign jackets and puttees, but no neckerchiefs. In the
third printing the Scouts are wearing long summer socks, knickers,
shirts, and neckerchiefs. (10 cards)
In the 1970's an unknown publisher reproduced one of the cards. The
border is more of a yellow-orange, the print is in green, and the "B"
is filled in the color of the border. The back is plain and there is
very little chance of confusing this card with one of the originals. (1
card)
Continue to part 2
Stan Lipson
For information on other cards see:
Collecting Boy Scout Postcards From the United States
The difference between a set and a series is subtle. A set of postcards, either numbered or unnumbered, was originally sold together: individual cards were not available separately. A series of cards numbered or not, is a group of postcards with a common theme that are sold individually. Since it may be difficult today for a collector to find either complete sets or complete series, this guide will treat them together.
From 1910 until 1970 the BSA issued 11 different series of postcards.
In 1913 the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America copyrighted
and published a series of twelve cards. Each heavily ornamented
colorful card contained the full text of one of the points of the Scout
Law: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. The
fronts of the cards bear a copyright notice in a blue circle in the lower right hand corner. (12
cards with the circle copyright)
In 1916 the cards were reprinted using a different printer and the copyright notice was changed to a straight line.
Within two years, two additional cards were added to the set, one with
a summary of the twelve points and one with the Boy Scout Oath.
(14 cards with the straight line copyright)
The summary card is known to exist without any copyright mark. (1 card with no copyright mark)
(02) First Activity Cards: 1913 – 1916. (91 cards)
The BSA published a series of 30 numbered black and white postcards
showing scouting activities. Each is clearly marked Official Boy
Scout Postcard. The photographs used to produce the cards were
contributed from all over the country. Notable are several that
show Dan Beard who introduced Scouting at the Culver Military Academy
during the summers of 1911 and 1912.
Schlesinger Brothers and Company of New
York City did the printing by photo offset. Their postcards are all
easily recognized by their distinctive logo in the form of a stag's
head on the upper left of the back of the cards.
The company produced three printings of the cards: the order in which they first appeared is unknown.
Type I cards have a blank back with no series number. (30 cards)
Type II cards are marked in the lower left corner of the back: "Series No. 252 Auth. by Nat. Head. Boy Scouts of America." The series number was assigned by Schlesinger Brothers and had nothing to do with the Boy Scouts of America. (30 cards)
Type III cards are marked "SERIES 252" in approximately the same position as the markings for Type II. (30 cards)
Type II cards are marked in the lower left corner of the back: "Series No. 252 Auth. by Nat. Head. Boy Scouts of America." The series number was assigned by Schlesinger Brothers and had nothing to do with the Boy Scouts of America. (30 cards)
T. Fridy of Lancaster, PA. reprinted card #2 in the form of a "real
photo" on Kodak paper. It does not have a Schlesinger Brothers back and
the chance of confusing it with an original card is minimal. (1 card)
In 1914 the BSA copyrighted and published a series of ten Christmas postcards.
Continue to part 2
Guide created: 08/12/06 (updated 07/21/07)
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