Editing Patch collecting

{{Short description|Hobby of collecting patches or badges}}
{{mdy|date=February 2024}}
'''Patch collecting''' or '''badge collecting''' (also, '''scutelliphily''', from Latin ''scutellus'' meaning ''little shield'', and Greek ''phileein'' meaning ''to love'') is the [[hobby]] of [[collecting]] patches or badges.

==Souvenir patches==
[[File:Patches of scouting.jpg|thumb|alt=Examples of patches|Patches of boy scout events as well as Cub Scout rank]]
Souvenir patches are usually shield-shaped and generally contain a [[coat of arms]], a map or a miniature view. The [[Embroidered patch|patches]] can be made of any material, but are usually woven or [[embroidery|embroidered]] [[Cloth|fabric]], though they can also be made from paper or, increasingly, plastic.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

Other types of collectible patches include [[police]] or service patches, [[space mission]] patches, [[Scouting|Scout]] patches, fashion patches, political and sports stickers, walking stick labels, car window [[Pennon|pennant]]s, and pin badges. Collecting metal badges or pins, either military or civil is known as [[faleristics]].{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==History==
Badges have been collected since ancient times. Greek and Roman [[pilgrim]]s to [[Paganism|pagan]] shrines made collections of miniature images of gods and goddesses or their emblems, and Christian pilgrims later did the same. Usually medieval Christian pilgrim badges were metal pin badges - most famously the shell symbol showing the wearer had been to the [[shrine]] of [[Saint James the Great|St. James]] at [[Santiago de Compostela]] in [[Spain]]. These were stuck in hats or into clothing and hardworking pilgrims could assemble quite a collection, as mentioned by [[Geoffrey Chaucer|Chaucer]] in his '[[Canterbury Tales]]'.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The growth in the 19th century of travel for ordinary people saw a huge increase in the [[souvenir]] industry, as these new secular pilgrims - like their medieval counterparts - wanted to bring back reminders of their holidays/vacations and sightseeing, ranging from china plates to postcards.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

The production of stick-on souvenir badges seems to have started in mainland [[Europe]] during the early 20th-century, probably in Germany shortly after the First World War when [[hiking]] became popular, and people began sewing badges of resort towns onto their [[backpack]]s and jackets. In the U.S., the development of the [[National park]]s system and the growing popularity of vacationing saw a similar development of patch collecting.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

After the Second World War, American [[G.I. (military)|GI]]s occupying Germany sent badges back to their loved ones, showing where they were stationed. These badges became known as ''sweetheart patches''. They were also imported to Britain by Sampson Souvenirs Ltd., which also began producing badges of British tourist spots, and went on to become (and still is) the largest British manufacturer of souvenir badges. The biggest American manufacturer is Voyager Emblems of [[Sanborn, New York]].{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==Law enforcement patch collecting==
{{main|Police patch collecting}}
[[File:Patch of the Federal Protective Service (GSA).png|Patch of the Federal Protective Service|thumb]]

Another patch collecting specialty is police agencies such as sheriff, police, highway patrol, marshal, constable, park rangers, [[law enforcement]] explorer scouts, or other law enforcement related personnel. Emblems worn on uniforms have been exchanged between officials as a sign of cooperation for decades, and displays of patches are found in police stations.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==Fire department patch collecting==

Similar to police patches, [[fire department]] patches are also traded amongst fire agencies and some are sold to the general public. Station patches are available amongst large fire departments in [[North America]]. Some station patches are worn by firefighters, but mostly not on official uniforms. The patch design is sometimes found on fire vehicles.{{cn|date=February 2024}}

==See also==
* [[Flag patch]]
* [[Militaria]]
* [[Military badges of the United States]]
* [[Scouting memorabilia collecting]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Collecting]]