During the first quarter of the twentieth century, Raphael Tuck & Sons, Ltd. was one of the premier postcard publishers in the world.  Some collectors believe they were head and shoulders above all the rest.  The prolific printer actively promoted sales by encouraging postcard collecting and even went so far as to sponsor contests for the best and the largest postcard collections.

Raphael Tuck & Sons produced cards with local (local - from all over the world!) scenes.  They produced greetings cards, novelty cards (such as cards cut up into jigsaw puzzles and cards with colored glass beads pasted on the surface), and cards made from real photographs.  Among their most highly acclaimed cards was a series called "Oilettes," which were made from original oil paintings which they had commissioned.

Among the most highly sought after of the Oilettes, is the set of six postcards called simply Our Boy Scouts.  The paintings featured fantasy Scouts from six patrols, each with the head of the patrol's totem.  The original paintings as well as all records indicating the name of the artist have been reported to have been destroyed when Tuck's main offices in London were heavily bombed during World War II.

Although not as rare as some Boy Scout postcards, since Tuck's cards appeal to a much wider audience they are extremely difficult to obtain.  The wrapper is virtually impossible to find.  The third edition (1997) of J. L. Mashburn's The Postcard Price Guide lists the cards in excellent condition at $150 - 175 each.  (There are two grades above excellent.)  In 1998 a dealer offered three of the cards at $250 each.  In the author's experience, only one or two other Boy Scout postcards have ever attracted this kind of attention.