Of Camp Patches and Demographics
Texas friend Roger S., knowing I like vintage camp patches, shared a link for a felt 1946 Camp Lowden patch from Blackhawk Area Council listed on eBay.
Its being offered at $9.99 by a knowledgeable seller. It might go for that. It might get into the $25 range. It won’t get into the $100 range. Why? Here’s what I told Roger:
this is an example where the council was much larger and active in the 1940s than in the 2010s. TX is the reverse- 1940s TX was a MUCH smaller place. So camp patches from there are much scarcer to begin with and more natural demand today. Other places like this are Washington, DC, California and the Pacific Northwest. Conversely NY is relatively flat from a camp patch perspective even though there is a lot of population there, Scouting was so active in the early years that the patches are available even if scarce.
Demographics come into play in many areas of Scouting collectibles. This is one of them. There are others.
For more on Demographics and collecting see 50’s is the new 30’s where I observe
We will be collectors for much longer than we might realize. We will have a much longer period to pursue our hobbies. We will have more extended retirement period than our parents or grandparents and thus more free time to pursue our hobbies.