Very interesting Scouting archive containing items from founders and early leaders, including Robert Baden-Powell, Ernest Thompson Seton, Daniel Carter Beard and others. Items from Baden-Powell include three early ALS, a small clipped signature, a vintage color 7.5 x 10 print of Baden-Powell in uniform, signed in fountain pen, a one page TLS on Boy Scout Association letterhead, dated August 3, 1921 and a two page TLS, dated November 19, 1923, on Scouts letterhead, in which Baden-Powell writes about an address he recently gave to Scouts and Scoutmasters. In part, “I am only so sorry that I did not seize the opportunity given me of saying a few words to the Masters themselves on the subject of the opportunity that is their’s also of doing national service for their country by giving a little of their spare time and thought to encouraging the boys to take up Scouting under their leadership.” Items from Seton include a nice signature and inscription, along with a small animal footprint sketch on an off-white album page, dated 1932, a two page TLS dated 1903, written to an admirer, a one page ALS from 1912, written by Seton after returning from a trip, a one page TLS from 1913, written to Christy & Moore of London sending his “article on Chillingham Cattle, which I would like to have you place with some magazine for publication...In this country I get $50 a thousand words and $2.50 for each photograph, but I suppose I shall have to take somewhat less in England.” Items from James West include two one page TLS, from 1907 and 1932 respectively and a vintage 8 x 11 sepia photo, signed in the lower border in fountain pen by West. Three one page TLS from Daniel Beard are also included, one from 1940, one from 1938 and one from 1930 on Dan Beard Camp letterhead, in which Beard responds to a request to speak. In part, “I should particularly like to speak to the young friends for I feel that they are to be the little leaven that leaveneth the loaf.” Also among the BEard items is a vintage color print of a Norman Rockwell print, which probably graced a calender, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, “You boys are the hope of a sick world, Dan Beard,” still affixed in its original holder, along with a letter from Beard’s secretary, acknowledging the photo. In very good overall condition. Avery interesting lot containing great items from the early days of scouting and the men who worked very hard to make scouting what it is now.
