COLLECTIONS BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA MERIT BADGE SERIES

COLLECTIONS

“Enhancing our youths’ competitive edge through merit badges”

35875_COLLECTIONS.indd 1 9/4/15 8:50 AM Requirements

1. Prepare a short written report or outline for your counselor, giving a detailed description of your collection,* including a short history. Be sure to include why you chose that particu- lar type of collecting and what you enjoy and have learned from your collection.* 2. Explain the growth and development of your collection. 3. Demonstrate your knowledge of preserving and displaying your collection. a. Explain the precautions you need to take to preserve your collection, including (1) Handling (2) Cleaning (3) Storage b. Explain how best to display your collection, keeping in mind preserving as discussed above. c. Explain to your counselor the events available for a hobbyist of this collection, including shows, seminars, conventions, contests, and museum programs and exhibits. 4. Demonstrate your knowledge of collecting and investing. Discuss with your counselor: a. How investing and speculation would apply to your collection b. What you would look for in purchasing other collections similar to yours c. What you would expect in return value if you decided to sell all or part of the collection *Stamp and coin collecting are excluded from eligibility for this merit badge. 35875 ISBN 978-0-8395-3242-2 ©2013 Boy Scouts of America 2015 Printing

35875_COLLECTIONS.indd 2 9/4/15 8:50 AM 5. Do the following: a. Discuss with your counselor at least 10 terms commonly used in your collection and be prepared to discuss the definition of each. b. Show your counselor any two groups from your collection. Explain how you organized your collection and why you chose that method. (Note: If your collection is too large to transport and your counselor is unable to view your collection directly, photographs should be available to share.) c. Explain how your collection is valued by other collectors, and display to your counselor any price guides that may be available. d. Explain how your collection is graded for value, physical defects, size, and age. Show the various classifications or ratings used in your collection. e. List the national, state, or local association responsive to your collection. f. Show the location of and explain to your counselor the identification number (if applicable), series, brand name (if any), and any other special identification marks. 6. Discuss with your counselor the plans you have to continue with the collection in the future. 7. Discuss with your counselor why and how collecting has changed and how this applies to your collection. 8. Find out about career opportunities in collecting. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your coun- selor, and explain why this profession might interest you.

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Resources for Collecting Scouting Literature Collector Books. Garage Sale Flea Archeology, Basketry, Coin Collecting, Market Annual: Current Values on Fishing, Fly-Fishing, Geology, Graphic Today’s Collectibles, Tomorrow’s Arts, Indian Lore, Journalism, Antiques. Collector Books, 2006. Leatherwork, Metalwork, Painting, Farndon, John. The Practical Photography, Pottery, Pulp and Paper, Encyclopedia of Rocks and Minerals: Railroading, Reading, Scouting Heritage, How to Find, Identify, Collect, and Sculpture, Sports, Stamp Collecting, Maintain the World’s Best Specimens. Textile, Theater, Wood Carving, and Lorenz Books, 2006. Woodwork merit badge pamphlets Gerber, Ernst. The Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books (2 vols.). Diamond Visit the Boy Scouts of America’s Comic Distributors, 1995. official retail website (with your parent’s permission) at http://www Hake, Ted. The Official Hake’s Price Guide to Character Toys, 6th ed. .scoutstuff.org for a complete list- House of Collectibles, 2006. ing of all merit badge pamphlets and other helpful Scouting materi- Lemke, Bob, ed. 2007 Standard Catalog als and supplies. of Baseball Cards, 16th ed. Krause Publications, 2006. (Krause also pub- Books lishes catalogs covering other sports.) MacDonald-Taylor, Margaret. A Baker, H.K.G. Cool Collectibles for Kids: Dictionary of Marks, 5th ed. Barrie A Kid’s and Parent’s Guide to the and Jenkins, 1992. Hobby of Collecting. Silverleaf Press, 2007. Newell, Patrick. Cool Collectibles: Military Collectibles. Children’s Beckett, James. Beckett Almanac of Press, 2000. Baseball Cards and Collectibles, 2006 ed., Vol.11. Beckett Publications, 2006. Nigro, Nicholas J. The Everything (Beckett writes price guides for all the Collectibles Book: How to Buy and major sports cards.) Sell Your Favorite Treasures, From Fabulous Flea Market Finds to Berg, Barry. The Art of Buying and Incredible Online Deals. Adams Selling at Flea Markets. Hobby Media, 2002. House Press, 2003.

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Overstreet, Robert M. The Official Ephemera Society of America Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, P.O. Box 95 37th ed. House of Collectibles, 2007. Cazenovia, NY 13035-0095 Prisant, Carol. Antiques Roadshow Telephone: 315-655-9139 Collectibles: The Complete Guide to Website: http://www.ephemerasociety.org Collecting 20th Century Glassware, International Scouting Costume Jewelry, Memorabilia, Toys, Collectors Association and More From the Most-Watched Website: http://scouttrader.org Show on PBS. Workman Publishing Lepidopterists’ Society Company, 2003. Website: http://www.lepsoc.org Rickards, Maurice. Encyclopedia of Printed Ephemera Collection at Ephemera. Routledge, 2000. Library of Congress Sorrell, Charles A. Rocks and Minerals: Website: http://memory.loc.gov/ A Guide to Field Identification. ammem/rbpehtml/pehome.html Golden Guides for St. Martin’s Smithsonian Center for Education Press, 2001. and Museum Studies Stearns, Dan, ed. Standard Catalog of P.O. Box 37012, MRC 508 Die-Cast Vehicles. Krause Washington, DC 20013-7012 Publications, 2005. Telephone: 202-633-5330 Summers, B.J. Antique and Website: www.smithsonianeducation.org/ Contemporary Advertising idealabs/collecting/ Memorabilia, 2nd ed. Society of Illustrators Collector Books, 2004. 128 E. 63rd St. Thompson, Maggie, et al. 2007 Comic New York, NY 10065 Book Checklist and Price Guide: Telephone: 212-838-2560 1961 to Present, 13th ed. Krause Website: http://societyillustrators.org Publications, 2006. United States Club List Williams, Don, and Louisa Jaggar. Website: http://www.rockhounds.com/ Saving Stuff: How to Care for and rockshop/clublist.html Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, Magazines and Publishers and Other Prized Possessions. Fireside, 2005. Beckett Media Website: http://www.beckett.com Organizations and Websites Comics Buyer’s Guide Association of Collecting Clubs and Website: http://www.cbgxtra.com National Association of Collectors DC Comics 18222 Flower Hill Way, No. 229 Website: http://www.dccomics.com Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Website: http://collectors.org Gemstone Publishing Website: http://www.gemstonepub.com

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Marvel Comics Shutterstock.com, courtesy—cover Website: http://www.marvel.com (geode, ©michal812; van, ©jantarus); Panini Sports Trading Cards pages 4 (©charles taylor), 7 (jar, ©Jim Website: http://www.donruss.com Hughes; marbles, ©arosoft), 8 (butter- fly, ©Butterfly Hunter), 11 red( box, Rocks & Minerals ©Mathisa), 14 (red car, ©Burachet; Website: blue and pink cars, ©Andreas Gradin), http://www.rocksandminerals.org 15 (©Viktor1), 18 (stamps, ©LSkywalker; Topps tickets, ©AKaiser; marbles, ©TOMO; Website: http://www.topps.com corks, ©Discovod; shells, ©Vibe Images), 23 (license plates, ©Cameron Trading Card Central Cross), 44 (magnifying glass, Website: http://www.tradingcard ©stockCe), 51 (©Ivan Smuk), 52 (peb- central.com bles, ©Diana Taliun; rock collection, Tuff Stuff (a multisports collectibles ©Zigzag Mountain Art), 56 (both, magazine) ©Archiwiz), 57 (semiprecious stones, Website: http://www.tuffstuff.com ©Natali Glado), 59 (©Rawpixel), and Upper Deck 60 (crater, ©wassiliy-architect) Website: http://www.upperdeck.com Syracuse University Library, Syracuse, New York, courtesy—page 26 Acknowledgments Josh Waddell, courtesy—cover (baseball The Boy Scouts of America thanks and football cards); pages 40 (all) Dr. and Mrs. Charles Deur, Arlington, and 43 (Lott, Aikman, Dunne) Texas, for their assistance with a photo Wikipedia.org/Andreas Praefcke, shoot for this merit badge pamphlet, courtesy—page 25 and for sharing their knowledge Andy Winkler, courtesy—page 41 about collectibles. The Boy Scouts of America is grateful All other photos are the property of or are to the men and women serving on the protected by the Boy Scouts of America. Merit Badge Maintenance Task Force Darrell Byers—page 14 (bleach) for the improvements made in updating this pamphlet. Tom Copeland—cover (action figure); pages 8 (car), 10 (action figure, Photo and Illustration Credits note), 13, 16 (Scout), 19, 24, 30, 32–33 (all), 38, 46, 50, 54–55, and C.S. Dixon, BoyOldToys.com, courtesy— 56 (notebook) page 9 (both) Brian Payne—pages 39, 43 (Jordan), Footballcardshop.com, courtesy—page 45 44 (cards and image in magnifying HeritageComics.com, courtesy—pages glass), 49, 53, 58, and 61 27–28 (all) and 35 Randy Piland—pages 57 (Scout) and 60 (Scouts)

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