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1911
First edition
300,000 copies
The invitation to join shouted by the Scout camper on the cover of the
first handbook was accepted by thousands of youngsters. They wore that cover thin
duplicating the handbook's frontier skills in countless city vacant lots and on
hikes into the country. |
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1914
Second edition
3,000,000 Copies
From 1914 to 1927, the cover of the handbook for Boys featured a semaphore signaling team.
The Scouts who patterned their signaling stance from the cover and their behavior and development
from the book itself created a great record of service to the nation in World War I. |
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1927
Third edition
4,000,000 copies
From 1927 to 1940, the cover told a story of youth facing in the same direction as Benjamin Franklin,
George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Charles Lindbergh. The boys who used this
book found in it purpose and direction to meet the depression and grow with confidence. |
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1940
Fourth edition
3,000,000 copies
From 1940 to 1948, the cover portrayed a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Sea Scout. Wartime Scouts read
this book between scrap drives, wastepaper collections, messenger service, and a thousand special jobs
the country asked of them in World War II. |
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1948
Fifth edition
840,000 Copies |
1949
Fifth edition
5,160,000 copies |
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| Scout spirit, Scout participation, and Scoutcraft helped train boys for good citizenship in the early
years of the cold war with Russia and through the hot war in Korea as America sought to stop the spread
of communism. |
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1959
Sixth edition
4,000,000 copies
This cover was the third that was painted by Normal Rockwell, who began his career with Boys' Life.
This was a tense period of the arms race and Cuban missile crisis. Some Americans built bomb shelters; others
said "Better dead then Red." Scouting was a stabilizing influence. |
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1965
Seventh edition
4,375,000 copies
In spite of turmoil at home and abroad, millions of American boys identified themselves with this book.
In it, they found permanent values. Those boys are now grown men who are beginning to exercise leadership
roles throughout America. |
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1972
Eighth edition
First three printings
2,750,000 copies |
1976
Eighth edition
Fourth and fifth printings
950,000 copies |
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| The improved Scout program broadened its appeal. Twelve skill awards were added along with new merit badge subjects, and
all of the merit badge requirements were added to the book. The slogan was "Scouting today's a lot more than you think." |
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1979
Ninth edition
First seven printings
2,745,000 copies
This edition of the handbook with its Rockwell cover is based firmly on the fundamentals. It is the complete book containing all
of the skills and ideals of Boy Scouting. In it, Scouts follow a Trail to Eagle marked out in the pages of this book. |
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1990
Tenth edition
First two printings
1,000,000 copies
Opportunities for scouts to take real action and make a real difference in the outdoors and in their communities are
presented in this edition of the handbook. The cover shows scouts sharing in the excitement of outdoor adventures. |
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1998
Eleventh edition
The new edition of the Boy Scout Handbook is not just a guide to the outdoors - but a guide for life that addresses
issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, respecting others, and using the Internet appropriately. |
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