This Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Series lot includes 10 mid century scouting pamphlets covering First Aid, Cycling, Woodcarving, Camping, Forestry, Rowing, Canoeing, Chemistry, Botany, and Machinery.
You are getting the full group shown in the photos. These were working Scout manuals, and several still carry the writing, underlining, and notes left by a previous owner. The pages remain readable, with plenty of period photographs, line drawings, instructions, requirements, and practical information.
Details
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Item: Lot of 10 Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Series pamphlets
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Title: First Aid, Cycling, Woodcarving, Camping, Forestry, Rowing, Canoeing, Chemistry, Botany, and Machinery
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Author: Boy Scouts of America
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Illustrator: Not confirmed from photos
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Publisher: Boy Scouts of America
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Publication Year: Mixed mid century printings and copyright dates, with confirmed information from 1949 to 1962
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Edition and Printing: Mixed printings. Canoeing is copyright 1952, printed 1959. Machinery is copyright 1956, printed 1958. First printing status for the complete lot cannot be determined.
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Format and Binding: Illustrated softcover stapled pamphlets
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Dust Jacket: None, as issued
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Pages: First Aid 82, Cycling 39, Woodcarving 35, Camping 60, Forestry 89, Rowing 58, Canoeing 57, Chemistry 42, Botany 63, Machinery 58
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Genre: Scouting, outdoor skills, crafts, science, and practical instruction
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Language: English
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ISBN: No ISBN
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Dimensions: Approximately 8 x 5 1/2 inches each
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
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Graded Good: The pamphlets are complete enough for reading and reference, with noticeable signs of previous use.
- Interior pages remain readable and include many black and white photographs, diagrams, and line illustrations.
- Several pamphlets have relatively clean interior pages despite their age and use.
- The matching red, black, and white Merit Badge Series covers make this a recognizable period group.
Issues / Wear
- Rowing and Canoeing have handwritten notes across the front covers.
- Chemistry has pencil underlining and marks in the requirements section.
- Camping has a number written in pen on an inside page.
- Forestry has previous owner pencil marks through the requirements and water staining inside. Small paper damage is also visible on an interior spread.
- Machinery has pen marks on an inside page.
- Botany and several of the other pamphlets show page yellowing or spotting.
- Covers show rubbing, softened corners, creasing, edge wear, and handling marks from use and storage. Slight musty smell.
Condition Grade Key
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Near Fine: Almost perfect. Very minor signs of age only.
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Very Good: Shows light use. Sound and attractive with minor flaws.
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Good: Complete and intact. Noticeable wear consistent with age and use.
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Fair: Shows significant wear. Readable or usable but clearly used.
Collector's Notes
These pamphlets were written as working guides for Scouts earning individual merit badges, so the subjects range from outdoor skills to science, crafts, and first aid.
The group gives you ten different subjects together instead of a single scattered pamphlet.
The handwritten notes and requirement marks show that several of these copies were actually used while working through the material. They are part of this set's history, but buyers wanting clean unmarked examples should take that wear into account.
This is a useful group for a Scouting collection, a former Scout, or someone rebuilding a set of the older Merit Badge Series booklets.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece, please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
Care and Handling:
Handle with clean, dry hands. Store upright, out of direct sunlight, at about 68°F and 40 to 50% relative humidity. Avoid damp areas and extreme temperature swings.
How Reading Vintage sources and grades every book
