Figure 1.--This Scout at the 1981 Natioanl Jamboree is considering a trade after discussing his trading strategy at the many sites where patch trading is conducted.
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Figure 1.--This Scout at the 1981 Natioanl Jamboree is considering a trade after discussing his trading strategy at the many sites where patch trading is conducted. |
I'm not sure when patch trading first began. It is, however, a long established tradition at American Scout Jamborees. It was a way to meet other Scouts from different Concils and parts of the country. It was fun to being hime patches feom different parts of the country and a remonder of all the different people you met. As foreihn Scouts also attended the Jamboree, it was possible to trade for foreign as well as American Scout patches. All different kinds of Scout patches were traded, but the prize patches were the patches for the different Scout Councils around the country. The idea at first was just to trade new friends and acquaintences patch for patch on a one for one basis. Some Scouts continued to collect parchesas adult Scouters and some old patches acquited real value. Also patch tarding changed. Some Scouts now try to get as many patches as possible and demand multiple patches for some patches that proved particularly desirable because of the color pattern or design. They want to bring home as many of the trediest patches as possible.
I'm not sure when patch trading first began. It is, however, a long established tradition at American Scout Jamborees. At the first Jamborees, Scouts traded soyvenirs from their state. Wood carvings were popular. The big hit at the First Jamboree in 1937 were lived horn toads. We have noted an intent interest in patch trading as early as the 1981 National Jamboree, but believe it was a popular activity much earlier than that.
It was a way to meet other Scouts from different Concils and parts of the country. It was fun to being hime patches feom different parts of the country and a remonder of all the different people you met, including boys from other countries because foreign Scouts also attend the Natioanl Jamboree. The idea at first was just to trade new friends and acquaintences patch for patch on a one for one basis. This still helps Scouts meet. The trading also helps boys develop business skills as well as to learn about basic economics.
All different kinds of Scout patches were traded, but the prize patches were the patches for the different Scout Councils around the country. A Council patch is worn by rach Scout on his left shoulder to identify what Council he is from. Each Council normally include something in the region to identify it. The Marion County patch, for example, included the Stat Wars figure Yoda, becaise George Lucas is from Marion County, California. [Blum, p. B2.] There are many other specialized types of patches which are collected, such as Oder of the Arrow patches. As foreign Scouts also attended the Jamboree, it was possible to trade for foreign as well as American Scout patches. While patches are the primary item traded, amy other scout items are trades including caps and other uniform items such as neckerchiefs.
Scouts at the Jamboree are busy with activities during much of the day. Trading takes place all the timem but is most intense at lunch and in the afternoon after the major activity periods at the Jamboree end. Several thousand boys are envolved to vary degrees on the process. Fort A.P. Hill is one hor place in July and August. Most Scouts are tired and sweaty after the days' activities. The traders nonde the less seek out a high traffic area with a little shade and spread a towell, blanket, or other ground covering on which to display their patches. The more sophisticated have albumns with plastic pages to hold the patches.
The different Council patches have developed a value of their own. Patches that are colorful or that have especially interesting motifs seem to have acquired the greatest value in the eyes of the Scouts. t each Jamboree, some patches become particularly popular and thus desirable. At the 1997 Jamboree the most popular patches were Council patches with a skiing cow, Cap'n Crunch, and Yosemiti Sam. Realative raity of course is another factor.
Some Scouts have so much fun trading patches that they become collectors. Quiye a number of boys continued to collect parches as adult Scouters and some old patches acquited real value. Scouters now trade patches year round at not just at camps and Jamborees. Of course the internet have significantly expanded this. Many older Scouters have very extensive collections and even young Scouts and Cubs have some impressive collections.Acquiring and collecting patches has become a popular activity fof Scouters, from young Cubs to elderly Scouters. Most Scouts acquire a few patches for fun. Some becone very serious about collecting the patches and collecting has become a very sophisticated activity. There is now even computer software developed which allows collectors catalog their collection, keep track of needs, inventory duplicates, record values, and generate reports and lists. The collector can also sort Blue Book data by alphabetical, chronological, lodge, state, issue type or any personal criteria that the collector has chosen. There are books to assist Scouts interested in collecting. One has over 200 pages of information, detailed descriptions, and values of CSPs. [Franck]
Patch trading at the Jamboree has changed, becoming more like baseball card trading where the value is determined by supply and demand. Some Scouts now try to get as many patches as possible and demand multiple patches for some patches that proved particularly desirable because of the color pattern or design. They want to bring home as many of the trediest patches as possible. Scouts compalin that a "cut-thraot" competition has developed among traders. Some claim that traders spread rumors about the arroval of large shipments of certain patches. Some huckster Scouts claim that common patches are valuable misprints. There are even non-Scout like reports of theft. [Blum, p. B1.] Sone Scouts develop a sophisical strategy including having chums comment on how cool his patches are during the trading session.
Patcg trading has become so popular and intense that some Councils provide advise to their Scouts in printed guidelines given participating Scouts. Washingon-area Scouts, for example, were advised by the D.C.-Area Council, "The most sinister amd mercinary patch-traders--the ones out to take you for all you are worth--are likely to be the older Scouts".
Blum, Justin. "Out to get the best batch of prized Scout patches, " Washington Post August 4, 1997. pp. B1-2.
Franck, David G. An Aid to Collecting Selected Council Shoulder Patches with Valuation Guide.*
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