Patch collecting or badge collecting (aka scutelliphily, from Latin scutellus meaning little shield, and Greek phileein meaning to love) is the hobby of collecting patches or badges.
Types of patches collected may include commercial products, military insignia, and law enforcement insignia.[1][2][3][4][5]
Patch collecting has a history dating back to at least World War II.[6][7][8]
See also
References
- Anthony, Shane (1 July 2012). "Police memorabilia collectors share badges, stories in St. Charles". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
- Rossi, Andrew (10 July 2026). "Rock Springs Girl Saved By First Responders Collecting "Hero Patches" To Honor Them". Cowboy State Daily.
- Nuclo, Caitlin (13 May 2026). "Plainville police raise money for charity through collectible patch sales". WFSB.
- Demerly, Tom; Cenciotti, David. "Many Aviation Fans Are Patch Collectors And Here Are Some of Our Favorite And Rarest Pieces". The Aviationist.
- "Policeman displays shoulder patches". Sierra Madre News. Vol. 84, no. 41. 27 July 1989. p. 7.
Skinner has accumulated all 356 current-style California police department patches in mint condition with the exception of six agencies.
- "Letters to the Editor: Trading Corner". Army Times. Vol. 3, no. 35. 10 April 1943.
Shoulder patch collecting is comparatively new and about the only source we collectors have for increasing our collections is in trading patches.
- "The Talk of the Town: Collector". The New Yorker. 2 June 1945.
Richard is only sixteen but has been in the patch-collecting game since before Pearl Harbor.
- Campbell, Bert L.; Reynolds, Ron (1983). Marine Badges and Insignia of the World. Poole: Blandford Press. p. 166. ISBN 0713711388.