Merit badges are among the earliest badges issued by the Scouts. The program behind these, advancement and recognition, have proven to be one of the most impactful within Scouting. Actually the Scouts figured out ‘gameification’ desire of young kids from the beginning and clearly before video games were even a concept. Youth like, and need, recognition for accomplishments.

BSA Scouting’s first merit badges were issued on square khaki cloth from 1911 to 1933. Given the long duration of usage and being implemented near the founding, collectors have documented varieties that were issued. A key group of these the hobby calls “Teens era” due to confirmation from the 1914 Boy Scout calendar that shows all of the merit badges at that time. We have an original in our archives and think collectors might enjoy seeing it so we are posting here.

As this was to be used starting in January, 2014 it was actually produced sometime in the fall of 2013 and was advertised as being available in the December Scouting catalog. The layout includes all of the merit badges available at that time but cut down to round (the border embroidery.)

Almost all have differences from later issues. Some may be minor such as in Dairying (churn is wider), Painting (brush is wider) or Blacksmithing (red “lip” at base). Some may be subtle such as Surveying (three legs to telescope) or Automobiling (four valves) to dramatic differences such as Lifesaving (all white buoy) or Seamanship (all black anchor). The calendar also pictures some of the rarest merit badges, besides the black anchor Seamanship, such as Invention (10 or so issued) or Stalking with oak leaf design.

Going through these, can you find all of the differences? Fred Duersch, Jr. in his book Merit Badge Field Guide, did a great job in documenting them.

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