Merit badge collecting is the hobby of collecting merit badges. As used herein it specifically refers to the collecting of merit badges issued by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Many other Scouting organizations or Scouting-like organizations (such as Pathfinders and Royal Rangers) around the world also issue merit badges or their equivalent, but not all do so. Some Pathfinder groups call these badges honours or honors.
The Scouting organizations of Canada, Japan, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the USA are a few of the ones known to issue or have issued merit badges.
Certain other organizations (such as fire brigades) issue badges/awards they call merit badges, but those are distinctly different in nature than what is covered by the scope of this article.
Origins
The collecting of all Scouting memorabilia began when Scouting was founded in Great Britain in 1908. Scouting came to the United States in 1910. Merit badges are just one of the many types of Scouting memorabilia that can be collected, enjoyed, studied, and passed down. Everything pertaining to Scouting can be collected, including uniforms, red/white community strips, Order of the Arrow flaps, camporee patches, rank insignia, coffee mugs, commemorative patches, handbooks and merit badge pamphlets. In 1911, BSA introduced the first official 57 merit badges. The number available has been as high as 140 and is at 120 as of 2005.
Purpose of merit badges
Merit Badges exist to allow a Scout to explore areas of interest to him and to teach him advanced skills in Scoutcraft. Once earned, the badge is presented at a Court of Honor. Merit Badges can be earned at any point in a Scout's career, but are required for the higher ranks of Star, Life, and Eagle. The number required for Star, Life, and Eagle varies, as has the ratio of required Merit Badges vs non-required Merit Badges for those ranks. As of 2005, a Scout must earn 21 for Eagle rank, 12 of which must be from the required list. Once a Scout has attained the Eagle rank, he can earn Eagle Palms, a core requirement of which is earning more merit badges.
Badge history
BSA changes the design, name, and availability of merit badges depending on factors such as their popularity and changes in society (such as the shift from an agriculture based society to an industrial based society in 20th century America). Of the original 57 merit badges from 1911, only 11 are still available that also still have the same basic motif/design (Architecture, Art, Athletics, Chemistry, First Aid, Lifesaving, Music, Plumbing, Public Health, Scholarship, and Surveying). Of those 11, only five were made available in each "generation" of the 10 merit badge types (these are Architecture, Art, Chemistry, Plumbing, and Public Health). The remaining six were not reproduced in a short lived "generation" of merit badges, Type I.
The merit badges on the required list for Eagle rank have changed several times. "First Aid" is the only merit badge that has always been on the required list for Eagle.
A few examples of merit badge changes over the years include:
- "Civics" was originally the only citizenship-related merit badge. In 1952 it was broken into four separate merit badges and these successor badges have changed several times themselves since then.
- "First Aid to Animals" was one of original merit badges in 1911 but was dropped because of its agricultural focus in 1972. It was ressurected as "Veterinary Science" in 1973 with a focus on small pet-type animals. It was renamed "Veterinary Medicine" in 1995.
- "Personal Health" was an orignal 1911 merit badge with a heart motif. In 1952 it became "Personal Fitness". In 1969 it was redesigned, displaying a youth in gym gear doing what looks like a jumping jack exercise.
- There were many farm-related merit badges in the early days, reflecting the agrarian nature of America at the start of the twentieth century. In 1972 all of the badges that dealt with the growing of crops were merged into "Plant Science".
Types of merit badges
As of 2005 and as described in Merit Badge Field Guide1, there are 10 major types of merit badges: Type A/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J. (Note: Mouse over the image to see the description)
Type A
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardening, Type A, front Gardening, Type A, back |
A (square) | 1911-1933 | Type A merit badges were supposedly manufactured in rolls and then cut into squares approximately 2 inches (5 cm) square, hence its nickname square. Some squares have watermarks (the BSA emblem in black) or partial watermarks on the back as these were printed on the back of the rolls at certain intervals. Some Type B and C merit badges also have watermarks. The early Gardening merit badge shown below is often confused with Corn Farming, which had three corn husks. As the sample photo shows, notice that the edges were folded under by hand before being sewn onto a merit badge sash (you can see the creases). For a photo of a sash, see List of merit badges in the Boy Scouts of America. Sashes are worn over the right shoulder. Type A merit badges came from the manufacturer without the crease. Some people removed excess cloth before creasing them to make the merit badge round on the merit badge sash. These cut-down squares look similar to a Type C, but usually end up with straighter yet uneven edges than a Type C. Also, Type A merit badges may have lighter tan khaki cloth than a Type C badge. |
Type B
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Health, Type B, front Public Health, Type B, back |
B (wide border) | 1934-1935 | Type B merit badges were the first merit badges to be crimped and shaped round, meaning that after they were cut from the cloth, the edge was crimped by the manufacturer and folded under, making a smooth, nice looking edge. Types B/C/D/E were cut round and crimped in this manner, so when new, they were perfectly round in the crimp and cut edge. The diameter of the badge after crimping is 1 3/4", with 3/16" to 1/4" being from the edge of the merit badge to the outer edge of the green ring. This area from the edge to the green ring is wider than in the Type C merit badge, hence its nickname, wide border. Some wide borders have watermarks. Some Type B and C merit badges came in a darker tan/brown cloth than Type A badges, although many retained the same basic cloth color. |
Type C
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civics, Type C, front Civics, Type C, back |
C (narrow border, narrow tan) | 1936-1946 | Type C merit badges were made from the same type of cloth as Type B badges, but were a little smaller in width. The diameter of the badge from outer edge to outer edge is about 1 1/2" (38mm), with the distance from the crimp to the outer edge of the green ring being 1/8". Size is the only differnce in a Type B and Type C merit badge; hence the nickname narrow border and narrow tan. Some narrow tans have watermarks. Most Type C merit badges were not made after 1942 (see Type D section below); only the Air Scout aviation blues, which came in four designs, were made in Type C from 1942-1946. These had blue fully embroidered cloth instead of the regular khaki-colored cloth of all other Type C merit badges. If you compare Type B and Type C merit badges side-by-side, the difference in the distance from the outer crimp edge to the green ring is obvious. |
Type D
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping, Type D, front Camping, Type D, back |
D (fine twill, sand twill) | 1942-1946 | Type D merit badges were made from a lighter weight cloth and with a much finer weave than Type C merit badges because the heavier, thicker weave material that Type C merit badges were made from was needed to make uniforms needed during World War II. Because of this finer weave twill material, they are called fine twill. They are also called sand twill because the color is a sand-color; a much lighter shade than Type C merit badges. They are the same size as Type C merit badges. In fact, Type C/D/E merit badges are all the same size. The only Type C merit badges made during this era were the afore-mentioned aviation-blues with the Type C blue-background material. Because sand twills were made for such a short time many decades ago and, according to many collectors, have more aesthetic appeal than Type C or Type E merit badges; the sand twill merit badges are highly sought after by collectors. |
Type E
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship In The Home, Type E, front Citizenship In The Home, Type E, back |
E (khaki green, khaki) | 1947-1960 | Type E merit badges were made from the same material as Type C merit badges, but the color is a decidedly darker green, hence the nickname khaki green. They are also the same size as Type C and Type D merit badges. If a Type E merit badge has had significant washings or sun exposure it can be hard to tell from a Type C. Serious collectors have Type B/C/D/E merit badges recrimped to restore their original appearance as many merit badges lose their neat appearance over the years if the merit badge is not cared for properly. All Type C/D/E merit badges have sizing on the back which serves as a stiffener to help the badge retain its crimp. |
Type F
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming, Type F, front Swimming, Type E, back |
F (khaki twill, rolled edge twill) | 1961-1968 | Type F merit badges were the first merit badges made with a rolled edge, which is stitching around the edge of the merit badge that kept the merit badge together, prevented unravelling, and did away with the need for crimping. Except for the large varieties of Type I merit badges, Type F/G/H/I/J merit badges are all 1 1/2" in diameter; just like Type C/D/E merit badges. Type F merit badges do not have embroidered backgrounds (see Type G section below). Their backgrounds look just like Type E merit badges, hence the nickname khaki twill. Type F merit badges were made during the same years (except for 1969) as Type G merit badges. The only thing that distinguishes them is that a Type F does not have an embroidered background and a Type G does. The reason is that BSA decided at the beginning of the 1960s to make a gradual shift to fully embroidered merit badges. These are also the first merit badges that had a gauze backing of any kind. |
Here is a sample of Type F & G merit badges that had the same motif. Note the full embroidery and fuller cloth backing on the Type G. Type F merit badges have a gauze or cheese cloth backing.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| Botany, Type F, front | Botany, Type F, back |
| Botany, Type G, front | Botany, Type G, back |
Type G
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forage Crops, Type G, front Forage Crops, Type G, back |
G (cloth back) | 1961-1971 | Type G merit badges were the first merit badges made with a full cloth backing, hence the nickname cloth back. While all Type G merit badges have full embroidery, there were a few Type A/B/C/D/E merit badges with full embroidery, some of which were Foundry Practice, Grasses, Legumes, and Forage Crops (later renamed to Forage Crops), and Farm Home And Its Planning. These merit badges that were already fully embroidered do not exist in Type F. In 1969, BSA started issuing silver-bordered merit badges for those merit badges that were on the required merit badge list for Eagle rank. Silver-borderd merit badges appear in Type G/H/J merit badges. |
Type H
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collections, Type H, front Collections, Type H, back |
H (plastic back) | 1972-2002 | Type H merit badges were the first merit badges made with a plastic-coated backing, hence the nickname plastic back. This coating was added to make merit badges more durable and is the only difference in a Type G and Type H (also see Type J section below). This coating is most commonly clear, but is also found in a milky white color and from 1972 until about 1977 blue plastic-coated merit badges were often issued. The blue-coated merit badges are rare and highly prized by collectors. On merit badges that have a blue embroidered background, it is extremely difficult to tell if the plastic coating is blue or clear. Type G/H/I/J are all fully embroidered. As they were made for 30 years, Type H merit badges are by far the most common. |
Type I
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Water, Type I, front White Water, Type I, back |
I (computer design) | 1993-1995 | Type I merit badges were designed using computers, hence the nickname computer design. The background stitching is different from Type G/H/J merit badges, but the most obvious difference is in the green border--it is no longer rolled, but flat. BSA decided to phase in these merit badges beginning in 1993, but they were not very popular and were discontinued in 1995. BSA reverted to the Type H design, manufacturing them for another seven years. Since Type I was never fully adopted, not all merit badges appear in Type I. In fact, only 30 merit badge varieties appear as Type I. So while not that old, they are also not that common. Another oddity is that for some inexplicable reason, Type I was made in two sizes: 38mm and 42mm. Naturally, this made a neat-looking sash very awkward. Some merit badges that did appear as Type I only appear in 38mm, some as only 42mm, and some appeared in both sizes. Another way to identify a Type I is that on the back side there is a stitched brown ring just inside the green ring. Note, none of the merit badges on the required list for Eagle rank appeared as Type I. |
Type J
| Front/Back | Type (with nickname(s)) | Years of issue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish & Wildlife Management, Type J, front Fish & Wildlife Management, Type J, back |
J (scout stuff) | 2002-present | Type J merit badges are just like Type H merit badges, except some variation of the BSA Supply Division's Scout Stuff logo appears on the back; hence the nickname "scout stuff". BSA started putting this logo on all its patches (ranks, position, numeral patches, etc) in 2002 to reduce counterfeiting and show support for the American labor force. In the first few years the logo stamped on the back was not consistent in design. On a good specimen, you can read most of BSA Supply Division and Scout Stuff. |
Errors vs variations
Specimen variations
Variations are minor changes in the merit badge design or manufacture that do not appeciably alter its appearance or design. These could be positional changes, stitching changes, or other minor nuances. These are generally called "manufacturing variations" and not worthy of being classified separately and not worth extra monetary value. However, some variations have attained notariety, such as the waffle weave weave variation found amongst Type C merit badges and the large people vs slender people variations of "Family Life". Such variations were very common up until the 1940s and they still occur, but not as often. Some collectors find these variations interesting and collect them. Some examples include:
- There are some shifts in the relative position of the tent to the mountains among "Camping" Type H merit badges.
- The earlier Type H "Hiking" merit badges had the Scout, mountains, and clouds in a certain position relative to one another. After a few years, the position of these elements changed slightly.
- There are stitching variations among the Type C "Personal Health" merit badges. Sometimes the hearts' stitches are vertical, sometimes, horizontal, sometimes something else.
- The color of the green ring is not consistent. Even today, it varies from dark green to yellow green.
- Some "Family Life" Type H and J merit badges have slender people and some have large people.
Specimen errors
Genuine errors from the design do occur. Some genuine examples follow:
- "American Cultures", Type G (should have been H), plasticizing error. This merit badge was created in 1979, but some were made without plastic backs or partial plasticizing on the back. This probably occurred 1979-1981.
- "Atomic Energy", Type G, made without a nucleus. This occurred 1964-1969 and is very likely a thread break.
- "Beekeeping", Type G, silver border error. This occurred 1969-1972.
- "Citizenship in the Nation" appears in Type H in both large and small bell varieties.
- "Colonial Philadelphia", Type G (should have been H), plasticizing error. This merit badge was issued from 1975-1976 only for Scouts in the Philadelphia region but could not be used for Eagle rank but could be used for Eagle Palms, but some were made with partial plasticizing.
- "Dairying" appears in Type H with the cheese in both orange and burgundy. It is supposed to be orange.
- "First Aid to Animals", Type H, silver border error from 1972--have a slight blue tint in the plastic back (see error section). It is believed that only about 100 of these were made and that only about 50 have survived to this day. This is probably the most famous merit badge error. There is a fake of this error out there too.1
- "White Water", Type H, black border error. This occurred in 1987.
Other variation notables
Some known design matters worth noting:
- "Beekeeping" was made from 1914-1938 with only four legs instead of six simply because of human design error. "Beekeeping" also exists in thick and thin bodies in Type C.
- "Citizenship in the Nation" appears in both Type H and Type J with the colors in the order red/white/blue and blue/white/red. The Type H change was apparently by design. The reason for the Type J shift is not certain.
- "Insect Life" was first made, from 1923-1924, with a spider on it. Someone pointed out a spider is an arachnid, not an insect, and the design was changed to an aphid. As this particular merit badge specimen was only issued for one year, it is extremely rare.
- The required merit badge list for Eagle rank changes, so some merit badges shift between green and silver borders. From 1972-1979, Camping went from silver to green and back to silver. So, Camping Type H in green border (issued from 1973-1977) is fairly rare.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| First Aid To Animals (silver border error) Merit Badge, Type H, front | First Aid To Animals (silver border error) Merit Badge, Type H, back |
Caring for your collection
To preserve and protect your collection:
- Store the collection in a cool, dry, smoke-free place.
- Never put merit badges in a washing machine.
- Store merit badges between two sheets of non-PVC plastic. The best thing to use are cardboard holders, paper flips, found at any coin dealer. One size of cardboard holder holds Type B and large Type I merit badges and another holds Type C/D/E/F/G/H/I(small)/J merit badges. You will have to improvise to store Type A merit badges. One solution is to take a 8.5"x11" sheet of non-PVC plastic and cut the plastic to the proper size and then sear all but one edge so that you can insert the merit badge into to holder. Another solution is to use hobby card sleeves, which are also non-PVC.
Spoof merit badges
Spoof merit badges are made and sold simply for fun; they are not official merit badges of BSA. These are not fakes of genuine merit badges, though they are the same size as a merit badge and have an outer green ring. Dozens of varieties of these exist, such as for snoring, computer viruses, citizenship in the universe, snow art, text messaging, and whining. As they look like genuine merit badges to the unsuspecting buyer, be careful of ones that could conceivably be a legitmate merit badge if BSA ever authorized it. Examples of this latter group are spoof badges for scuba, surfing, and whitewater kayaking.
Spoofs of other BSA badges exist, such as for training status and troop positions. Spoof badges should never be worn on a Scouting uniform. The most well-known of this variety is the "Untrained" spoof training patch.
References
- 1*Fred Duersch Jr., Merit Badge Field Guide, Downs Printing Inc., 2003
- 2*Spotting fake BSA insignia, including the fake "First Aid to Animals" merit badge
- Merit Badges past and present, track what morphed into what, etc...
See also
External links
- ^ "Helping Scouts Advance". Merit Badge Research Center. September 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) (general information) - "Current Merit Badge Pamphlet and Merit Badge Requirement Revision Dates". US Scouts.org. September 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) (dates of revision) - "Merit Badges, Past and Present". Scouters' Pages. September 26.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) (dates of creation) - International Scouting Collectors Association web site
- US Scouts Advancment home page, see Merit Badge section
- US Scouts Merit Badge requirements
- Meritbadge.com
- Merit Badge graphics
- Merit Badge statistics
- General Scouting info
