First Edition - 1911

Back Cover                               Front Cover

1st Edition

• title from title page—The Official Handbook for Boys
• by BSA Editorial Board & various experts
• cover art by Gordon Grant
• 1911-1914 (3 years)
• 313,500 copies printed (average 104,500 copies printed per year)
• size 124x184x19 mm (4-7/8x7-1/4x3/4")
• 13 printings (called "editions" in the Handbooks; BSA records identify 10 "regular" printings plus a "reprint" of the 2nd printing; in addition, there are two other printing variants known):
  —1st printing (Aug 1911, 40 000 copies)—olive drab cover, 400 numbered pages
  —2nd printing (Nov 1911, 60 000 copies)—olive drab cover, 404 numbered pages, 1911 on title page
  —2nd printing reprint (Dec 1911, 5250 copies)—maroon cover, 404 numbered pages, 1911 on title page
  —3rd printing (May 1912, 25 500 copies)—olive drab cover, 404 numbered pages, 1912 on title page
  —4th printing (Jul 1912, 26 000 copies)—maroon cover, 404 numbered pages, 1912 on title page (no edition identified)
  —5th printing (Jan 1913, 27 250 copies)—maroon cover, 404 numbered pages, title page says Fourth Edition and 1912
  —6th printing (May 1913, 25 000 copies)—maroon cover, 404 numbered pages, title page says Fourth Edition and 1913
  —7th printing (Oct 1913, 25 000 copies)—maroon cover, 416 numbered pages, title page says Fourth Edition and 1913, no ads
  —8th printing (Dec 1913, 24 500 copies)—maroon cover, 416 numbered pages, title page says Fourth Edition and 1913, Eisner ads on both inside covers
  —first "special" printing (?? 1913, ?? copies [rare])—orange cover, 416 numbered pages, title page says Fourth Edition and 1913, no ads
  —second "special" printing (?? 1913, ?? copies [very rare])—light green cover, 416 numbered pages, title page says Fourth Edition and 1913, no ads
  —9th printing (Feb 1914, 25 500 copies)—maroon cover, 440 numbered pages, 1914 on title page
  —10th printing (Mar 1914, 25 000 copies)—maroon cover, 440 numbered pages, 1914 on title page; in reality, a reprint of the 9th printing, identical in every way

BSA TROOP 23

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B O Y   S C O U T S

O F   A M E R I C A

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Great Barrington, MA