B.S.A.   Christmas Postcards

Catalog #5104

( From 1914 until 1925 or later )

In 1914 the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America copyrighted and published a series of ten Christmas postcards.  The very distinctive backs show a small group of Scouts and a leader hiking over the crest of a wooded hill.  The copyright notice is at the base of the trees, just over the word Correspondence.

The philosophy of the "Boy Scouts of America" stated as "Non-military -- teaching loyalty, patriotism, chivalry, and advocating universal peace," portrayed the fledgling organization in stark contrast to some of its rival youth groups that were advocating universal military training for boys and war preparation for the country.

Immediately above the spine, in a box clearly reserved for the purpose, is the imprint and Quality Cards trademark of the A.M. Davis Co. of Boston, Massachusetts who printed the cards.

Consistent with the practice of asking printers to remove trademarks after receipt of the Congressional charter in 1916, the A. M. Davis Co. mark is missing after the first printing.

The front of each of the cards features a red-orange border and black print. There are five design themes, each with two sentiments beginning with a prominent "Be Prepared".  The "B" is filled in green.  The designs show Scouts bugling, signaling, saluting, delivering a package, or delivering a card.

bugling

In total there were three clearly identifiable printings.  Although a few of the cards underwent significant design changes between the first and second printings, the easiest way to identify the first printing is by the A. M. Davis imprint on the back of the card.  Between the second and third printings, all cards underwent design changes.  The most consistent and obvious was a uniform update.  The earlier versions of the cards showed Scouts wearing the original uniform with campaign jackets and puttees, but no neckerchiefs.  In the third printing the Scouts are wearing long summer socks, knickers, shirts, and neckerchiefs.

Summary of printings
First	A. M. Davis imprint	Scouts wearing puttees
Second	no trademark	Scouts wearing puttees
Third	no trademark	Scouts wearing long socks

There was one known attempt to reproduce one of the cards in the 1970s. The publisher is unknown.  The border is more of a yellow-orange, the print is in green, and the "B" is filled in the color of the border.  The back is plain and there is very little chance of confusing this card with one of the originals.

The cards were listed in the Fifth Annual Catalog, December 15, 1916 as item No. 5104 at two cards for five cents or a set of ten for a quarter.  The catalog lists the cards by letter rather than number.

They were advertised again in the issue of October 17, 1918.