Stamp Investment Tip: Lebanon 1956 UN 10th Anniversary (Scott #C221-22,C222Note)

In January of 1956, Lebanon issued a set of stamps and a souvenir sheet commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the United Nations (Scott #C221-22, C222Note). Only 15,000 sets and 4,000 souvenir sheets were issued. Scott '10 values them unused at $ 11.75 and $ 90.00, respectively. Both are attractive, and it is unclear which represents the better bargain, because it is likely that a far greater proportion of the sets were used as postage and discarded than were the souvenir sheets.

Stamps of Lebanon are popular among collectors of the Mideast and French Colonies. Furthermore, as a UN Topical, this issue has worldwide appeal, which should increase as the UN gradually gains credibility as an effective institution for dealing with global problems.

Lebanon, a nation of 4.2 million people, has had negligible GDP growth over the last 5 years due to Hezbollah's war with Israel, Syrian domination, and internal strife. Nevertheless, I am confident that it will eventually return to prosperity as the various factions within the region learn how to get along, and Beirut returns to its former preeminence as the "Paris of the Middle East."

Stamp Investment Tips: Lebanon 1948 UNESCO Souvenir Sheet (Scott #C145Note)

In 1948, Lebanon issued a compound set honoring UNESCO (Scott #220-24/C141-45). 50,000 sets were issued, and Scott '09 prices the unused set at $ 80.25. The set is worthy of consideration as an attractive UN Topical; however, I feel that the souvenir sheet issued with the set (Scott #C145Note), of which only 2,000 were issued (Scott '10 Catalog Value of $ 275.00) is a far better investment.

UN Topicals have worldwide appeal, which should increase as the UN gradually gains credibility as an effective institution for dealing with global problems.

Lebanon, a nation of 4.2 million people, has had negligible GDP growth over the last 5 years due to Hezbollah's war with Israel, Syrian domination, and internal strife. Nevertheless, I am confident that it will eventually return to prosperity as the various factions within the region learn how to get along, and Beirut returns to its former preeminence as the "Paris of the Middle East."

Stamp Investment Tip: Lebanon 1924 Olympics Set (Scott #18-21)

In 1924, the Olympic Games were held in Paris. The postal authorities in Lebanon, then a French Mandate Territory, joined in the celebration by overprinting the basic French Olympics set "Grand Liban" and surcharging it in local currency (Scott #18-21). Issuance quantities were not recorded , but they were probably 10,000-20,000. Scott '10 values both the unused and the used set at $ 130.00 .

The set is of interest to collectors of Lebanon, French Colonies, and of course, Sports and Olympics topical collectors. This is one of many scarce sets of Lebanon which should significantly increase in value as the various factions within that country learn how to get along, and Beirut returns to its former preeminence as the "Paris of the Middle East."