International Lighthouse Stamp Collector Panels

Most people collect by searching, finding, and adding to their collections. Soooo, everytime I get this offer for an instant collection in the mail, I wonder about it and its merits.

I am sure most of you have received this offer, but, if you haven't, it is a series by the "Postal Commemorative Society". Each pair consists of a panel on the left, featuring an international lighthouse postal stamp in mint condition with a narrative about the light and a map showing its location on the world map. Facing it, on the right, is an enlarged picture of the light. When you subscribe, you receive the usual album for keeping your panels safe. You receive three pairs of panels each month - of course, they don't say how long the subscription runs. They do look beautiful but it seems to me to cheat one out of the fun of finding each stamp individually. Of course, some of us, like me, might never collect these stamps, if we didn't buy something like this offer. Any thoughts? Anybody purchased them? Margret, what do you think?

Forever? As long as people put things in the mail there will be stamps in some form......

I have the entire series, Grace.

Ahh, at last. Rock, they really look nice; so are you happy with them? How many in the series? I've received the offer a couple of times and have been tempted to get it, but wanted to hear from someone who has them. Thanks!

Yes, I'm happy with them, it's a nice mix of American and international lights, what I wasn't happy with was the fact that they're not cheap and, at 60 panels (they arrive 3 at a time), it took almost two years to get them all...but the personalized binder looks good on the bookshelf and it was educational for me...a lot of the lights I never knew existed.

Exactly what I was thinking! You are right that they're a little pricey but, with the information you provided, they are worth a second look to me. Thanks, Rock!

Grace, when it comes to the philatelic value, don't bank on them increasing in value and being of monetary worth any time soon. But if you like them, enjoy them.

I have only seen these particular issues on the internet, not "for real". But the WWF did something similar for a very long time with stamps etc. about animals. And they are not worth anything like as much as you would hope. I know several disapointed people, who collected for ages and are now astonished that the pages sell for less than had been paid for them originally.

But, as with all collections, I think you need to collect the things you enjoy and not primarily collect to "make money"

So ...enjoy

BTW .... there are 1000s of lighthouse stamps around. If anyone is interested, I could show some.
We now have 1316 different lighthouses in our collection - on stamps and other philatelic materials (labels, post cards, covers etc.)
But I don't want to bore anyone with the stamps.

Here is just one example:



These are not acttual POSTAGE stamps, but Labels issued by the City of Plymouth (UK) for the Queens Coronation 1953
They show the first Eddystone Lighthouse, built by Winstanley in 1699 and destroyed 26th November 1703

Margret, I would really enjoy seeing your stamps. My father collected stamps when I was a kid and my brother picked it up, as well, so I have always had an interest. I have no intention of starting a real collection for obvious reasons but might go for the one in question because it would be something enjoyable. However, it sounds like you have a fantastic collection, one which we would enjoy here.

Ok, I'll show some stamps. But I am a bit puzzled under which heading I should do that? Any suggestions? :rolleyes:

It used to go under "Lighthouse Postcards and Papers." Not sure where it goes now, since it's just "Lighthouse Postcards."

exactly ... Well I need to scan some stamps anyway ... that will take a little time... so I can wait for a brain wave