The Boy Scouts' Handy Book

Buzzacott, Francis H.

Published by Hamming Publishing Co, Chicago, 1912

About this Item

Drawings and photographs; 8vo 8" - 9" tall; 514 pages; A rare and unusual early Boy Scouts of America related title. This extensive hand book of outdoor technique and method was directly associated with the then nascent Boy Scouts of America movement. Aside from the Boy Scouts reference in the title, the Scout Seal and motto are reproduced in pictorial design to the spine. By every appearance however, the author's attempt to affiliate his book with the Boy Scouts was opportunistic and apparently unauthorized. It would seem he was forced to quickly desist from using the BSA seal, motto and name in marketed editions of the book, which would explain the marked rarity of the book. The book appears to be nearly identical to the author's "Totem Club Boys Handy Book" with same copyright date and pagination, and indeed much inspired by Beard's 1892 American Boys' Handy Book. The title page on this copy is a cancel, again suggesting that the Totem Boys book was repackaged by the author or by a pirate publisher to tie in with the surging popularity of the Boy Scout brand. Though the book bears a 1912 copyright it is quite possible it might have been published anytime between 1912 and 1915. The pictorial binding is in red cloth with black and gray details. The cover depicts several scouts descending a rocky slope toward a camp by a stream or river bed. The spine panel reproduces the Boy Scout eagle shield with the "Be Prepared" motto below. Though the copyright identifies Hamming as publisher the spine is lettered Walter, and the copyright is noted as Donohue. To my eye this suggests the author was moving the target as he was asked to desist from marketing the book as a Scout publication. The book is worn with cloth rubbed through at lower front corners and boards peeking through. The gray applique used for relief details in clouds and rocks on the cover illustration is flaking at the cover and generally lost from the title lettering at spine. The designs and lettering in black, including the BSA motto and seal remain generally bold. Cloth thin and lightly frayed at spine ends; some soiling and light to moderate damp mottling to the cloth of the rear board. Profusely illustrated text with techniques of hunting, trapping, fishing and camping extensively described. Several plates at front speak to the author's self-promotional tendencies, including photos of the large civil tent camp/city from the 1904 St Louis World's fair and a multi-panel plate from drawing depicting the author in various expeditions to the poles, in the Zulu Wars, Spanish American war etc etc. Page stock is thin, in keeping with the notion of quickly produced or pirated edition, though the pages remain supple and are clearly printed. Each page adorned with pictorial borders. Binding is shaken but sound; endpages complete and sound in the inner joints. A mis-sewn or mis-trimmed signature mid-book has resulted in a stress crease across the upper corners of pages 334-374. Worldcat records no copies of this Boy Scout affiliated title, though some of the Totem Club variation are held. Without specific documentation, it seems reasonable to conjecture that the rarity of this title speaks to the effectiveness of the very early BSA program in enforcing (even prior to the 1916 Congressional Charter) ownership of name, motto and symbols. Fairly described as rare, this copy is Good only. Seller Inventory # 21005

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Boy Scouts' Handy Book

Publisher: Hamming Publishing Co, Chicago

Publication Date: 1912

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Good