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Rare original WWII-era Boy Scouts of America merit badge sash with documented Camp Soule / Pinellas Council provenance and the complete known Tribe of Muscogee BRAVE–WARRIOR–CHIEF progression.
The original owner is known, and I have personally spoken with him. He confirmed that he was a Boy Scout connected with the Camp Soule / Pinellas Council Scouting program in Florida represented by this sash. His name is being withheld from the public listing for privacy, but the ownership history is known. I will share this information with the buyer.
This is not a collection of loose patches assembled later. The insignia have remained together on the original vintage sash and document one Scout’s advancement, leadership positions, merit badges, and Camp Soule honors.
TRIBE OF MUSCOGEE – CAMP SOULE
The reverse contains all three documented levels of the early Tribe of Muscogee, an historic Camp Soule honor society associated with the former Pinellas Council, Florida, during approximately the early-to-mid 1940s:
* BRAVE – orange and dark blue/black arrowhead
* WARRIOR – white and green arrowhead
* MUSCOGEE CHIEF – white and red arrowhead
Historical research identifies Brave, Warrior and Chief as the known progression of the Tribe of Muscogee.
Very little material from this early Camp Soule organization appears on the collector market, and finding the complete progression still attached to the original Scout’s sash is especially noteworthy.
BSA RANK INSIGNIA
The front retains four vintage Boy Scout rank patches:
* Tenderfoot
* Second Class
* First Class
* Star Scout
LEADERSHIP / POSITION INSIGNIA
The sash also documents several youth leadership roles:
* Scribe – crossed gold quill insignia
* Assistant Patrol Leader – period horizontal bar insignia
* Den Chief – original blue-and-gold braided shoulder cord
The distinctive blue-and-gold cord at the top is a vintage BSA Den Chief shoulder cord, used by an older Boy Scout who assisted a Cub Scout den. This style is consistent with the WWII-era dating of the sash.
16 VINTAGE MERIT BADGES
Included are 16 early crimped-edge merit badges:
1. First Aid
2. Cooking
3. Woodwork
4. Carpentry
5. Pioneering
6. Swimming
7. Lifesaving
8. Bird Study
9. Scholarship
10. Personal Health
11. Zoology
12. Public Health
13. Bee Keeping
14. Canoeing
15. Rowing
16. Electricity
Several of these subjects help establish the age of the collection. Personal Health, Carpentry, Zoology and Bee Keeping are historic or discontinued merit badge subjects.
The merit badges have the older tan crimped-edge construction, with characteristics associated with the Type C / Type D era of BSA merit badges.
PERIOD & HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The sash is the older tan, three-badge-wide BSA style and is believed to date primarily to approximately 1940–1945 / WWII era.
Taken together, the sash documents a Scout who:
* Reached Star Scout
* Earned at least 16 merit badges
* Served as Assistant Patrol Leader
* Served as Scribe
* Served as a Den Chief
* Participated in Camp Soule / Pinellas Council Scouting
* Advanced through Brave, Warrior and Chief in the Tribe of Muscogee
The original Scout’s identity and Scouting connection are known and have been personally confirmed by the original owner.
CONDITION
Original vintage condition with expected wear from age and use.
There are areas of discoloration, staining, wrinkles, minor fabric wear and age-related imperfections. Please examine all photographs closely, including the detailed condition photos.
The sash has not been cleaned, restored, altered or disassembled.
No badges or insignia have been removed.
The entire piece is being offered intact exactly as shown. I will not separate the Tribe of Muscogee patches, merit badges, rank insignia or Den Chief cord.
COLLECTOR INTEREST
An unusual opportunity for collectors of:
Boy Scouts of America memorabilia • vintage BSA merit badges • WWII Scouting • Camp Soule • Pinellas Council • Florida Scouting history • Tribe of Muscogee • pre-Order of the Arrow camp societies • vintage Scout rank insignia • Den Chief memorabilia • early Scout camp patches
