US BSA Stamp Collecting Merit Badge Pamphlets

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YearFront CoverAuthor PageRequirements  Back CoverNotes
Dec
1931
1931 Front Cover 1931 Author Page 1931 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-December, 1931

On the front cover, "NEW YORK CITY"

BSA No. 3359

Typo: last two requirements both numbered "7."

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
Mar
1932
1932 Front Cover 1932 Author Page 1932 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-March, 1932

Requirement 8 numbered properly

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
Oct
1932
1932-10 Front Cover 1932-10 Author Page 1932-10 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-October, 1932

Requirements retyped with minor punctuation changes

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
Sep
1933
1933 Front Cover 1933 Author Page 1933 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-September, 1933

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
Jan
1935
1935-01 Front Cover 1935-01 Author Page 1935-01 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-January, 1935

Requirements remained unchanged although the page was re-typeset [since 1933]

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
Nov
1935
1935 Front Cover 1935 Author Page 1935 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-November, 1935

On the front cover, "NEW YORK, N. Y."

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
Nov
1936
1936 Front Cover 1936 Author Page 1936 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

3M-November, 1936

pages iii, iv, 1-38, plus covers.
May
1938
1938 Front Cover 1938 Author Page 1938 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2M-May, 1938

Requirements 1 to 3 revised.

pages: 4 unnumbered, 1-38, 2 page center picture, plus covers.
Apr
1939
1939 Front Cover 1939 Author Page 1939 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

3M-April, 1939

On the front cover, smaller First Class Badge, one address line.

44 (38 numbered) pages plus covers.
Feb
1941
1941 Front Cover 1941 Author Page 1941 Requirements Page     Blank brown back cover ©1931

2000241

44 (38 numbered) pages plus covers.
Mar
1942
1942 Front Cover 1942 Author Page 1942 Requirements Page     1942 Back Cover ©1931

2000342

Multicolor Covers and inside covers.  Made with 3 staples.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Mar
1943
1943 Front Cover 1943 Author Page 1943 Requirements Page     1943 Back Cover ©1931

2000343

Made with 2 staples.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Mar
1944
1944-03 Front Cover 1944-03 Author Page 1944-03 Requirements Page     1944-03 Back Cover ©1931

4000344

Multicolor Covers and inside covers.  Made with 1 staple.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Late
1944
1944 late Front Cover 1944 late Author Page 1944 late Requirements Page     1944 late Back Cover ©1931

4000344

Red only on front & back covers.  Made with 1 staple.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Jan
1945
1945 early Front Cover 1945 early Author Page 1945 early Requirements Page     Blank cream back cover ©1931

4000145

On the front cover, font size of "STAMP" & font of "COLLECTING" changed & Merit Badge image moved to the left.

Requirement 6 was retyped.

 Made with 2 staples.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Oct
1945
1945 Front Cover 1945 Author Page 1947 Requirements Page     Blank cream back cover ©1931

30001045

"O" in "COLLECTING" became more oval

black "BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA" on cover bottom raised

On the Author page, font size of "Printed in U.S.A." decreased.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Mar
1946
1946 Front Cover 1946 Author Page 1946 Requirements Page     Blank cream back cover ©1931

4000346

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Nov
1947
1947 Front Cover 1947 Author Page 1947 Requirements Page     Blank cream back cover ©1931

30001147

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Aug
1948
1948 Front Cover 1948 Author Page 1948 Requirements Page     Blank cream back cover ©1931

4000848

On the front cover, font of "COLLECTING" changed again.

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
Jan
1950
1950 Front Cover 1950 Author Page 1950 Requirements Page     Blank cream back cover ©1931

4000150

44 (39 numbered) pages plus covers.
YearFront CoverAuthor PageRequirementsReference Books Back CoverNotes
May
1951
1951 Front Cover 1951 Author Page 1951 Requirements Page 1951 Book Reference   1951 Back Cover ©1951

5000551

Thorsen's Boy Scout Stamps of the World, 1950 added to Book section.

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers.
Aug
1951
1951 Front Cover 1951 Author Page 1951 Requirements Page 1951 Book Reference   1951 Back Cover ©1951

5000851

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers.
Jun
1952
1952 Front Cover 1952 Author Page 1952 Requirements Page 1952 Book Reference   1952 Back Cover ©1951

7000652

On cover, drawing of merit badge moved 7mm to the right

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers.
Nov
1952
1952-11 Front Cover 1952-11 Author Page 1952-11 Requirements Page 1952-11 Book Reference   1952-11 Back Cover ©1951

100001152

New cover

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers.
May
1953
1953 Front Cover 1953 Author Page 1953 Requirements Page 1953 Book Reference   1953 Back Cover ©1951

15M553

Requirement 6d was printed too far to the left.

Thorsen's Book's publisher changed to 'Chicago: Redson-Rice'.

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers.
Jun
1954
1954 Front Cover 1954 Author Page 1954 Requirements Page 1954 Book Reference   1954 Back Cover ©1951

15M654

Concession Plan paragraph removed from back cover

56 pages plus covers

25 Cents added to author page
May
1955
1955 Front Cover 1955 Author Page 1955 Requirements Page 1955 Book Reference   1955 Back Cover ©1951

20M555

Location of the National Council moved to New Brunswick, N.J.

56 pages plus covers

25 Cents.
Nov
1956
1956 Front Cover 1956 Author Page 1956 Requirements Page 1956 Book Reference   1956 Back Cover ©1951

15M1156

56 pages plus covers

25 Cents.
Oct
1957
1957 Front Cover 1957 Author Page 1957 Requirements Page 1957 Book Reference   1957 Back Cover ©1951

16M1057

56 pages plus covers

25 Cents.
Nov
1958
1958 Front Cover 1958 Author Page 1958 Requirements Page 1958 Book Reference   1958 Back Cover ©1951

10M1158

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers

Price removed from bottom of author's page.
June
1959
1959 Front Cover 1959 Author Page 1959 Requirements Page 1959 Book Reference   1959 Back Cover ©1951

16M659

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers

Type was reset for requirements 1a, 6a, b & d.
Apr
1960
1960-04 Front Cover 1960-04 Author Page 1960-04 Requirements Page 1960-04 Book Reference   1960-04 Back Cover ©1951

17M460

Publisher information was removed from the More Help in Books section.

56 (51 numbered) pages plus covers

35 Cents.
Dec
1960
1960-12 Front Cover 1960-12 Author Page 1960-12 Requirements Page 1960-12 Book Reference   1960-12 Back Cover ©1951

18M1260

Price moved on Author page

35¢
Dec
1961
1961 Front Cover 1961 Author Page 1961 Requirements Page 1961 Book Reference   1961 Back Cover ©1951

18M1261

56 pages plus covers.

35¢
Mar
1963
1963 Front Cover 1963 Author Page 1963 Requirements Page 1963 Book Reference   1963 Back Cover ©1951

18M363

56 pages plus covers.

35¢
Mar
1964
1964 Front Cover 1964 Author Page 1964 Requirements Page 1964 Book Reference   1964 Back Cover ©1951

18M364

56 pages plus covers.

35¢
YearFront CoverAuthor PageRequirementsReference BooksPhilatelic SocietiesBack CoverNotes
Feb
1965
1965 Front Cover
1965 Front Hard Cover
1965 Author Page 1965 Requirements Page 1965 Book Reference 1965 Philatelic Societies 1965 Back Cover
1965 Back Hard Cover
©1951

18M265

Known with Hard Covers (called Library Bound Edition) with red "FDB" in circle printed on back hard cover.

Boy Scout Stamps of the World was updated to Thorsen & McKinney's Scouts on Stamps of the World

A Philatelic Societies section was added that contained SOSSI at 18 Ryan Road, Highland Park, NJ

56 pages plus soft covers.

35¢
Jul
1966
1966 Front Cover 1966 Author Page 1966 Requirements Page 1966 Book Reference 1966 Philatelic Societies 1966 Back Cover ©1966

20M766

SOSSI contact information was changed to "May [sic] L. Rogers, secretary, 37 Spindle Road, Hicksville, N. Y. 11801"

Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 19-600

40 pages plus covers.

35¢
Jul
1967
1967 Front Cover 1967 Author Page 1967 Requirements Page 1967 Book Reference 1967 Philatelic Societies 1967 Back Cover ©1966

17M767

40 pages plus covers.

35¢
Sep
1968
1968 Front Cover
1968 Front Hard Cover
1968 Author Page 1968 Requirements Page 1968 Book Reference 1968 Philatelic Societies 1968 Back Cover
1968 Back Hard Cover
©1966

33M968

Known with Hard Covers with "flb" in red square printed on back hard cover.

40 pages plus soft covers.
Jan
1971
1971 Front Cover 1971 Author Page 1971 Requirements Page 1971 Book Reference 1971 Philatelic Societies 1971 Back Cover ©1966

15M171

On the Author page, the BSA city was changed from New Brunswick to North Brunswick [from 1968]

40 pages plus covers.
Feb
1972
1972 Front Cover
1972 Front Hard Cover
1972 Author Page 1972 Requirements Page 1972 Book Reference 1972 Philatelic Societies 1972 Back Cover
1972 Back Hard Cover
©1966

15M272

On the Author page, W. Arthur McKinney's title changed to former  Boys' Life stamp collecting editor.

On the back hard cover of the Library Bound Edition, the two red dots below the "flb" red square have been replaced with the black number "3722".

SOSSI Secretary Rogers' first name was corrected from "May" to "Jay"

ISBN 0-8395-3359-4

40 pages plus covers.
May
1973
1973 Front Cover 1973 Author Page 1973 Requirements Page 1973 Book Reference 1973 Philatelic Societies 1973 Back Cover ©1966

13M573

All 6 requirements were reworded, yet the copyright year was not changed.

For the first time, the image of the merit badge, which is on every front cover, shows 2 stamps instead of 3.

40 pages plus covers.
YearFront CoverAuthor PageRequirementsPhilatelic SocietiesBack CoverNotes
Sep
1974
1974 Front Cover 1974 Author Page 1974 Requirements Page 1 1974 Requirements Page 2 1974 Philatelic Societies 1974 Back Cover ©1974

20M974

Harry Thorsen became the author and dramatically increased the visibility of Scout stamps, including a 7 page sub-section of the Topical Collections section and portions of his book Stories Behind The Scout Stamps.

In this revision, the number of requirements was increased from 6 to 10.

In the Philatelic Societies section, SOSSI's contact information was changed to "1000 Golfview Road, Glenview, Ill. 60025"

48 pages plus covers.
1974 Scouts on Stamps page 35 1974 Scouts on Stamps page 36 1974 Scouts on Stamps page 37 1974 Scouts on Stamps page 38 1974 Scouts on Stamps page 39
1974 Scouts on Stamps page 40 1974 Scouts on Stamps page 41 1974 Stories Behind Stamps page 27 1974 Stories Behind Stamps page 28
Nov
1976
1976 Front Cover
1976 Front Hard Cover
1976 Author Page 1976 Requirements Page 1 1976 Requirements Page 2 1976 Philatelic Societies 1976 Back Cover
1976 Back Hard Cover
©1974

10M1176

Thorsen's title changed to "Founder, Scouts on Stamps Society, International". [since 1974]

Known with Hard Covers with green "FDB" logo and black "3722" printed on back hard cover.

48 pages plus covers.
Apr
1978
1978 Front Cover 1978 Author Page 1978 Requirements Page 1 1978 Requirements Page 2 1978 Philatelic Societies 1978 Back Cover ©1974

7M478

48 pages plus covers.
Apr
1979
1979 Front Cover 1979 Author Page 1979 Requirements Page 1 1979 Requirements Page 2 1979 Philatelic Societies 1979 Back Cover ©1974

6M879

Start of the red stripe covers with the merit badge image moved to the top

On title page, BSA location changed to Irving, Texas

48 pages plus covers.
Sep
1980
1980 Front Cover 1980 Author Page 1980 Requirements Page 1 1980 Requirements Page 2 1980 Philatelic Societies 1980 Back Cover ©1974

6M980

The matching font of "STAMP COLLECTING" on the cover and the title page changed from hollow to serf. [since 1978]

On first requirements page, added BSA location of Irving, Texas

In 'Philatelic Societies', SOSSI address changed to "7305 Bounty Drive Sarasota, Fla. 33581"

48 pages plus covers.
Jul
1981
1981 Front Cover 1981 Author Page 1981 Requirements Page 1 1981 Requirements Page 2 1981 Philatelic Societies 1981 Back Cover ©1974

6.5M781

48 pages plus covers.
Jul
1983
1983 Front Cover 1983 Author Page 1983 Requirements Page 1 1983 Requirements Page 2 1983 Philatelic Societies 1983 Back Cover ©1974

6.5M783

Requirements were retyped [since 1981]

In 'Philatelic Societies', SOSSI address changed to Tampa, FL [since 1981]

48 pages plus covers.
Oct
1984
1984 Front Cover 1984 Author Page 1984 Requirements Page 1 1984 Requirements Page 2 1984 Philatelic Societies 1984 Back Cover ©1974

5.5M1084

48 pages plus covers.
Jan
1986
1986 Front Cover 1986 Author Page 1986 Requirements Page 1 1986 Requirements Page 2 1986 Philatelic Societies 1986 Back Cover ©1974

5.5M186

48 pages plus covers.
Nov
1987
1987 Front Cover 1987 Author Page 1987 Requirements Page 1 1987 Requirements Page 2 1987 Philatelic Societies 1987 Back Cover ©1974

5M1187

48 pages plus covers.
Nov
1988
1988 Front Cover 1988 Author Page 1988 Requirements Page 1 1988 Requirements Page 2 1988 Philatelic Societies 1988 Back Cover ©1974

5M1188

48 pages plus covers.
Oct
1989
1989 Front Cover 1989 Author Page 1989 Requirements Page 1 1989 Requirements Page 2 1989 Philatelic Societies 1989 Back Cover ©1974

5.5M1089

48 pages plus covers.
Nov
1990
1990 Front Cover 1990 Author Page 1990 Requirements Page 1 1990 Requirements Page 2 1990 Philatelic Societies 1990 Back Cover ©1974

5M1190

On the front cover, additional white space was added under the second thick horizontal red line at top.

48 pages plus covers.
Feb
1992
1992 Front Cover 1992 Author Page 1992 Requirements Page 1 1992 Requirements Page 2 1992 Philatelic Societies 1992 Back Cover ©1974

5M292

BSA No. changed from 3359 to 33359 [since 1990]

Bar Code added to Back Cover [since 1990]

48 pages plus covers.
Aug
1993
1993 Front Cover 1993 Title Page
1993 Acknowledgments Page
1993 Contents Page 1993 Requirements Page 1 1993 Requirements Page 2 1993 Back Cover ©1993

4.5M893

Starting in this edition, the author was removed from the title page while credits were place in an Acknowledgments section.

ISBN changed to 0-8395-3296-2

BSA No. changed to 33296

40 pages plus covers.
May
1994
1994 Front Cover 1994 Title Page
1994 Acknowledgments Page
1994 Contents Page 1994 Requirements Page 1 1994 Requirements Page 2 1994 Back Cover ©1993

4M594

40 pages plus covers.
May
1995
1995 Front Cover 1995 Title Page
1995 Acknowledgments Page
1995 Contents Page 1995 Requirements Page 1 1995 Requirements Page 2 1995 Back Cover ©1993

4.5M595

40 pages plus covers.
Jul
1996
1996 Front Cover 1996 Title Page
1996 Acknowledgments Page
1996 Contents Page 1996 Requirements Page 1 1996 Requirements Page 2 1996 Back Cover ©1993

4.5M796

40 pages plus covers.
20002000 Front Cover 2000 Acknowledgments Page 2000 Requirements Page 1 2000 Requirements Page 2 2000 Requirements Page 3 2000 Back Cover ©2000

BSA No. changed to 33296B

72 pages plus covers.
20022002 Front Cover 2002 Acknowledgments Page 2002 Requirements Page 1 2002 Requirements Page 2 2002 Requirements Page 3 2002 Back Cover ©2000

72 pages plus covers.
20042004 Front Cover 2004 Acknowledgments Page 2004 Requirements Page 1 2004 Requirements Page 2 2004 Requirements Page 3 2004 Back Cover ©2000

Items on the Acknowledgments page were reordered [since 2002]

72 pages plus covers.
20052005 Front Cover 2005 Acknowledgments Page 2005 Requirements Page 1 2005 Requirements Page 2 2005 Requirements Page 3 2005 Back Cover ©2000

Requirements were unchanged but the pages reformated

72 pages plus covers.
20072007 Front Cover 2007 Acknowledgments 2007 Requirements Page 1 2007 Requirements Page 2 2007 Requirements Page 3 2007 Back Cover ©2007

BSA No. changed from 33296B to 33296C [since 2005]

72 pages plus covers.
20082008 Front Cover 2008 Printing Information Page 2008 Requirements Page 1 2008 Requirements Page 2 2008 Requirements Page 3 2008 Back Cover ©2007

First full color version.

ISBN changed to 978-0-8395-3296-5

BSA No. changed to 35955

80 pages plus covers.
20112011 Front Cover 2011 Printing Information Page 2011 Requirements Page 1 2011 Requirements Page 2 2011 Requirements Page 3
2011 Stamp
2011 Back Cover ©2007

On the front cover, BSA Emblem moved to bottom blue border with text in serif font [since 2008]

Unnumbered page 80 changed from a "NOTES" page to a USA 2010 Scouting Stamp article

BSA No. on back cover now referred to as "SKU" (Stock Keeping Unit) [since 2008]

Printing year added to back cover [since 2008]

80 pages plus covers.
20132013 Front Cover 2013 Printing Information Page 2013 Requirements Page 1 2013 Requirements Page 2 2013 Requirements Page 3 2013 Back Cover ©2013

Sustainable Forestry Initiative logo added to back cover [since 2011]

80 pages plus covers.
20182018 Front Cover
2018 Front Cover 2
2018 Printing Information Page 2018 Requirements Page 1 2018 Requirements Page 2 2018 Requirements Page 3 2018 Back Cover
2018 Back Cover 2
©2013

NOVA logo and "STEM-Based" in bottom blue border. [since 2013]

80 pages plus covers.




During the 2018 printing cycle, BSA changed the front and back covers and updated the inside back cover,

NOVA logo and "STEM-Based" was removed from the front cover.

On the back cover, in addition to the 4 images being replaced, the SKU was changed from 35955 to 623013 and the barcode from 30176 35995 to 30176 35800.