Vintage Ta Tanka Lodge 488 OA Flap Patch Red Border White Buffalo WWW Early For Sale

This flap is prized because the lodge merged and the patch will never be issued again, and because early California OA flaps are generally rarer and more valuable.

Ta Tanka Lodge 488 \"WWW\" red border flap, which is one of the earliest standard OA flap issues from the lodge, likely dating to the mid-1950s to early 1960s. This design (red border, \"WWW\", white buffalo) followed the initial round patch issued in 1953 and became a classic, highly sought-after piece for collectors of California OA memorabiliaThis listing is for an original, early **Ta Tanka Lodge 488 \"WWW\" red border flap patch**—one of the first flaps ever issued by this historic California Order of the Arrow lodge.

- Classic \"WWW\" design (Wimachtendienk, Wingolauchsik, Witahemui)

- Lodge totem: White Buffalo

- Red merrowed border, vibrant original embroidery

- Issued in the late 1950s to early 1960s, soon after the lodge\'s founding in 1952

- Scarce and highly sought by OA collectors nationwide

**About Ta Tanka 488:**

- Chartered in 1952, served San Gabriel Valley Council, California until 2015

- \"Ta Tanka\" is Sioux for \"Bull Buffalo\"

- Merged in 2015—closed lodge, patch never to be made again!

See detailed photos for embroidery, size, and original cloth-back.

Early OA flap, Ta Tanka Lodge 488, California OA patch, WWW, White Buffalo, vintage Boy Scout, Order of the Arrow collectible, closed lodge

A true gem for advanced OA patch and BSA memorabilia collectors—hard to find in this condition!An authentic, early-issue flap patch for the Ta Tanka Lodge 488. This red-bordered variant is a centerpiece for any Order of the Arrow collection. The embroidery is crisp, featuring the iconic white buffalo against a mountain backdrop with \"WWW\" and lodge numbering clearly visible.

Condition Note:

The patch shows very minor edge wear consistent with careful removal from a uniform. The colors remain vibrant, and the backing is structurally sound .