Rare South Dakota Cub state strip surfaces
Nearly two years ago Don DeYoung took a poll of state strip collectors and identified five Cub strips unknown in any collection: DEL HAWAII MISS SDAK and WYO (one collector said he had seen a WYO Cub but could not identify the owner). Note that Hawaii and Alaska were not states when these strips were used, but full ALASKA state strips exist in both khaki & red and Explorer colors. The two known Alaska Cub strips say ALAS. I am not aware of full HAWAII state strips existing in any colors but red & white, althought there is a TH khaki & red strip (Territory of Hawaii).
We were able to locate a South Dakota Cub strip and get an image of it, but it was not owned by a national state strip collector. Then in March of 2006 a WYO Cub strip was discovered for sale on eBay in a large frame with other Scout and Cub insignia. The entire frame sold for over $500 and the last bidders were after the state strip only. In May of 2006 a South Dakota Cub strip appeared on eBay with a Sturgis town strip, and this lot sold for over $460. The remaing three unknown Cub strips have not been found to my knowledge. A third South Dakota Cub strip was offered on eBay just recently in August and brought a high bid of $405.
A gauze back PA Explorer strip was sold by TSPA in September of 2007 for over $134. We think gauze back strips of any kind were locally made in small numbers to meet limited demand. It seems strange that there would be a need somewhere for PA Explorer strips, which are not otherwise rare. There is one other PA Explorer gauze back known to me and one IOWA Explorer gauze back known.
State strips are a different animal to collect when you consider that no one yet has completed a set of states in any non-red & white color, unless you accept the TH for Hawaii in khaki & red. There are several unknowns in Explorer (at least DEL and HI), and about half the states are unknown in Sea and Air Scout colors. Several of the known Air Scout strips are unique (one known to exist), including IOWA KY RI VA. The only known Virginia Air Scout strip has a rolled edge, which also is unique.
Part of the fun of state strips is coming across ones previously unknown, but that has gotten harder over the last two decades. EBay has revealed several previously unknown. Two others that have popped up in the last few years that were unkown to me include IOWA Sea Scout (winter) and SC Sea Scout (summer). Some believe they exist in every variety for every state, I am very skeptical.
Bruce Shelley
on April 15th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
I have a Nev. Explorer G/B state strip with gauze on the back in my collection.
on May 11th, 2011 at 11:34 am
I believe as of May 2011 the only unknown Cub state strips are DEL, Hawaii, and MISS
on May 12th, 2011 at 6:59 am
Thanks for the update. What is needed is an updated list of all of the non-RWS state strips. Bruce Raver’s book of a few years ago took a stab at it but we’ve found a few more since then.
on May 12th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Regarding the post on state strips, I do try to keep a running catalog of the main varieties. For the rare ones I try to note who actually owns one when I know. This is much more difficult for the rarer varieties like tan & red and fine/sand twill, not to mention gauze backs and back thread varieties. For the five major types these are the ones that are unknown to me. Some states have only summer or winter Sea Scout known but I didn’t break those out. I always point out that Alaska and Hawaii were not states when these were used. Bob Cylkowski points out that if we include those two states on the list then we should also include the Philippine Islands, which were also a territory at the time (P.I. does exist in K&R).
K&R: HAWAII (T.H. does exist for Territory of Hawaii)
Explorer: HAWAII R.I.
Cub: ALASKA (ALAS does exist) HAWAII DEL MISS
Sea: ALA ALASKA ARIZ DEL GA HAWAII IDAHO LA MD ME MINN MISS MONT NEB NEV NH NJ NMEX NY NDAK OKLA RI SDAK VT WYO
Air: ALASKA ARIZ CONN DEL FLA HAWAII KANS LA MINN MO NEB NEV NH NJ NC OHIO OKLA PA SC SDAK TENN VT WVA WYO
on September 2nd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Bruce- Interesting list, thanks. Regarding Sea Scout state strips, do you have a record for white background/blue text for KANS.? If so, I am looking for an image of this piece.
on September 6th, 2011 at 4:23 pm
Kory – The only Kansas state strip in Sea Scout summer colors that I am aware of is in the Robert Wright collection. I have an image of that strip but don’t know how to add it to this reply. If you write to me directly at shelleyotte@comcast.net I can send you a copy.
on January 18th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
A MISS in blue and gold recently listed on eBay, then disappeared… We can call that one “almost discovered.” ALASKA in BG was discovered last year in a qty. of two. There is a state strip survey underway now. Please participate! Don
on January 20th, 2013 at 12:11 pm
A collector in Alaska has told me he owns a third ALASKA Cub state strip, so at least three exist.
on May 14th, 2014 at 8:40 am
There is an “Alaska” cub state strip currently on Ebay being sold with a Victoria and a Kodiak community strip. I saved a copy of the picture used there.
on May 14th, 2014 at 1:58 pm
We knew of these and told the seller to post as they ARE VERY SPECIAL. Rather than the picture, get the patches!