Stamp Investment Tip: Lebanon 1946 Allied Victory Souvenir Sheets (Scott #C106 Note)

  In 1946, Lebanon issued a set of six airmail stamps (Scott #C101-06) and three souvenir sheets on card stock (Scott #C106 Note) honoring the victory of the Allied Nations in World War II. While the set is fairly common, the souvenir sheets are scarce. 3,757 of the souvenir sheet with sepia inscriptions, 4,138 of the one with blue inscriptions, and 300 of the third, with blue inscriptions and printed on thick, honeycombed chamois card were issued, and Scott '13 prices the first two at $ 30.00 each, and the third at $ 110.-.

   The sheets have dual market appeal to collectors of Lebanon, World War II-related topicals. Also, many of the early issues of the independent nations which were former colonies/possessions of France are of interest to collectors there, as cultural ties remain strong.

Lebanon, a nation of 4.2 million people, is noted for its commercial enterprise. Over the course of time, emigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world. As a result, remittances from Lebanese abroad to family members within the country total $8.2 billion and account for one fifth of the country's economy. The country has the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States. The tourism and banking sectors are the the most important pillars of the Lebanese economy, though they have at times been disrupted by political instability. Annual GDP growth has averaged about 4.8% over the last 5 years.

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