by Sprake:
"Prince of Scouts and Hero of Mafeking" is woven in blue within red sash. Regd. No. 355916 woven in lower left.
by Godden:
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell was born in London on 22 February 1857. In 1897 he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the Fifth Dragoon Guards (the rank first listed on Stevens label 31+32).
However, Baden-Powell is probably best remembered not for his military activities in the South African War, with his skilful and courageous defence of Mafeking, but more for his work in establishing the now world-wide Scout movement. The first Scout camp took place in 1907 and the title PRINCE OF SCOUTS, seen on the Stevens silk portrait, probably related to his military scouts rather than to the later Boy Scouts.
This silk design was registered at the Patent Office on 10 April 1900, and the registration number 355916 is woven at the bottom left-hand corner of the silk, although it can also appear stamped on the back-label.
The portrait appears to have been taken from a photograph by Elliott & Fry reproduced in the first issue of The Sphere on 27 January 1900.
The title LT. COL. BADEN-POWELL was first listed on label 31+32, but this was soon amended on subsequent labels to read GENERAL BADEN-POWELL, the upgrading in rank to Major-General having taken place in May 1900 as a result of his famous defence of Mafeking (a further change in rank took place in 1908, when Baden-Powell was promoted to Lieutenant-General).
The later "General" is here designated 85a. The rank does not, however, appear on the silk or on the card-mount, but the later silks show shading from a point level with the collar downwards [that is, the image above], whereas the rare early issues have three strengths of shading from the ear-level [recorded as so72 on this site].
Other comments:
The design of this silk was registered on 10 April 1900, number 355916.
