Collections

Collections BSA Supply No. 33242

Collecting can be an educational and financially rewarding pastime: a collector must educate himself about a specific subject, be able to tell which items are worth preserving, how to catalog and organize his collection, and how to evaluate the value of items.

Requirements

Stamp and coin collecting are excluded from eligibility for this merit badge.

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 particular 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.
   1. Explain the precautions you need to take to preserve your collection, including
      1. Handling
      2. Cleaning
      3. Storage
   2. Explain how best to display your collection, keeping in mind preserving as discussed above.
   3. Explain to your counselor the events available for a hobbyist of this collection, including shows, seminars, conventions, contests, and museum programs or exhibits.
4. Demonstrate your knowledge of collecting and investing. Discuss with your counselor:
   1. How investing and speculation would apply to your collection
   2. What you would look for in purchasing other collections similar to yours
   3. What you would expect in return value if you decided to sell all or part of the collection
5. Do the following:
   1. Discuss with your counselor at least 10 terms commonly used in your collection and be prepared to discuss the definition of each.
   2. 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.)
   3. Explain how your collection is valued by other collectors, and display to your counselor any price guides that may be available.
   4. Explain how your collection is graded for value, physical defects, size, and age. Show the various grading classifications or ratings used in your collection.
   5. List the national, state, or local association for collectors in your field of interest.
6. Show the location of and explain to your counselor the following:
   1. Identification number (if applicable)
   2. Series
   3. Brand name (if any)
   4. Any other special identification marks
7. Discuss with your counselor the plans you have to continue with the collection in the future.
8. Discuss with your counselor the career opportunities that may be available involving your collection.
9. Discuss with your counselor why and how collecting has changed and how this applies to your collection.

Resources

Scouting Literature

Coin Collecting, Geology, Insect Study, Nature, Photography, and Stamp Collecting merit badge pamphlets.

Books

• Bazrod, Sondra Farrell. The Hunt for Amazing Treasures. Dell Publishing, 1999.
• Collector's Information Bureau. Collectibles Market Guide & Price Index, 19th Edition. Portfolio Press, 2002.
• Nigro, Nicholas. The Everything Collectibles Book. Adams Media, 2002.
• Stearns, Dan (editor). Standard Catalog of Die-Cast Vehicles. Krause Publications, 2002.
• Toy Shop Magazine editors. Today's Hottest Collectibles. Krause Publications, 1998.

Organizations and Web Sites

Beckett Publications
Web site: http://www.beckett.com

Collectors' Information Bureau
77 West Washington St., Suite 1716
Chicago, IL 60602
Web site: http://www.collectorsinfo.com

International Scouting Collectors Association
Web site: http://scouttrader.org

Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012
SI Building, Room 153, MRC 010
Washington, DC 20013-7012
Web site: http://kids.si.edu/collecting

Butterfly Collecting Resources

Books

• Glassberg, Jeffrey. Butterflies through Binoculars: The East. Oxford University Press, 1998.
• ------ . Butterflies through Binoculars: The West. Oxford University Press, 2001.
• Schneck, Marcus. Butterflies: How to Identify and Attract Them to Your Garden. Rodale Press, 1990.

Organizations and Web Sites

The Lepidopterists' Society
1608 Presidio Way
Roseville, CA 95661
Web site: http://www.furman.edu/ ~snyder/snyder/lep

North American Butterfly Association
4 Delaware Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
Web site: http://www.naba.org

Rock Collecting Resources

Books

• Chesterman, Charles W., and the National Audubon Society Staff. The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. Knopf, 1997.
• Mondshein Tejada, Susan, and Steve Seymour. Dig it! How to Collect Rocks and Minerals. Reader's Digest Children's Publishing, 2001.
• Symes, R. F., and the staff of the Natural Museum of London. Rocks & Minerals. D.K. Publishing, 2000.

Organizations and Web Sites

Association of American State Geologists
Web site: http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/ AASG/AASG.html

United States Geological Survey
USGS National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192
Telephone: 703-648-4000
Web site: http://www.usgs.gov

Sports Card Collecting Resources

Books

• Beckett, Dr. James. Beckett Almanac of Baseball Cards and Collectibles No. 8. Beckett Publications, 2003. (Dr. Beckett also writes price guides for all the other major sports cards.)
• Lemke, Bob (editor). 2003 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, 12th Edition. Krause Publications, 2002. (Krause also publishes catalogs covering other sports.)
• Orlando, Joe. The Top 200 Sportscards in the Hobby. Odyssey Publications, 2002.

Organizations and Web Sites

Beckett Publications
Web site: http://www.beckett.com

Donruss
Web site: http://www.donruss.com

Fleer Trading Cards
Web site: http://www.fleer.com

In the Game Inc.
Web site: http://www.baptradingcards.com

Topps
Web site: http://www.topps.com

Upper Deck
Web site: http://www.upperdeck.com

Comic Book Collecting Resources

Books

• Gerber, Ernst. The Photo-Journal Guide to Comic Books (2 vols). Gerber, 1990.
• Goulart, Ron. Great American Comic Books. Publications International Ltd., 2001.
• Overstreet, Robert M. The Official Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. House of Collectibles, 2002.
• Thompson, Maggie, et al. 2003 Comic Book Checklist and Price Guide. Krause Publications, 2002.

Organizations and Web Sites

The Crater Kid
Web site: http://www.craterkid.com

DC Comics
Web site: http://www.dccomics.com

Free Comic Book Day
Web site: http://freecomicbookday.com

Gemstone Publishing
Web site: http://www.gemstonepub.com

Marvel Comics
Web site: http://www.marvel.com

Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art
32 Union Square East, Suite 600
New York, NY 10003
Web site: http://www.moccany.com