First & last in book

Ahh, the visitors book...

At Cranmere Pool, Charles Dickens, the Prince of Wales and thousands of others have trekked to and signed their names in it since the mid 19th century.

It was also the only genuine bit of boxing that transferred over to that other thing/hobby.. y'know... Geocaching?

Visitors Books = Brilliant.

Surely visitors books are a diary, and maybe more should be written in them...

Being first in a book is great. A real treat. But I am thinking about getting a 'last in book' stamp, such is my lack of success at the front.

I see that visitors book's back covers are full of stamps. Who does this? And why don't people write the date they visit any more?

I understand some people no longer have personal stamps or make their mark in the books.

Why?

I can answer a couple of your queries - some boxers have started carrying a tiny stamp to stamp in the back of the book. Their reasoning is its easier to look on the back cover to see if they already have the box, than it is to wade through the pages at the front You will notice a 'Kilroy', a monkey, a penguin, some TTT's etc... these owners have already stamped their normal personals in the front of the book. It is a shame people don't stop to stamp their personals in the books as a mark of appreciation for the box from the owner, but these days the quest to get to a box first is still soooooo competetive. I used to enjoy reading peoples comments in some of the books, but now its stamp and go - shame.

I cannot agree with you more Maureen. Seems to me that the number of stamps obtained is more important than the real quality. Sadly a 'Micky Mouse' (or 'Owls' !) set of stamps has the same attraction of those handcuts put out by others - numbers not quality.

When you have long ago past 15,000 - perhaps you see the real point of 'boxing', and numbers mean so much less!

Don`t get me wrong - a stamp is important to the person putting it out, be they 5 or 65,and such that it must be encouraged in order to sustain the hobby!

As for being first in the book, or last, is somewhat immaterial. Over the years I know that the 'putter outs' have a listing of 'first' notifications who get the clues in advance of all others.( Sorry but some of you have no chance of being first!)
I have noticed this so very much recently so nothing has changed. If being first in the book is all important to you then good luck. My satisfaction is just simply getting the stamp that someone else has taken the trouble to make and put out.

Is that not what Letterboxing is all about?

TWA

I have been letterboxing for the best part of 20 years and over those years I have found three "virgin" books and I felt chuffed to be first in the book - but the last in the book became more of a game and some of those out there managed to get such tiny stamps to sneak into a corner.... but it was only in jest more than anything else... I usedd to have a little green snake for my sins - shame I lost it

I agree too: quality is better than quantity. The hand carved stamps of TWA and Eric Spicer, Jaid and the Hartshorns would attract me more to a box more than "Mickey Mouse" stamps.

I also sadly agree with the comment regarding preferential treatment with clues.

My post was more to do with the book being as important as the stamp and I find flicking thru the pages of the books I find fascinating. Who am I following, How long since this box was found, etc. I would never letterbox without stamping the visitors book first!

Couldn't agree more; what finer than on a lovely sunny day than to perch on a rock and read through the book. Lovely!

Duckpool

I was not aware there was a race to get first or last in the books and I do agree that to only worry about that is sad, mind we are relative newcomers as we are still trying to get to 500. I really enjoy looking at the visitors books and like others enjoy seeing who else has been there that day. Met someone last year who was also boxing and they asked who we were when I said we were 'Border Reivers' they proceeded to chat about boxes where they had found our stamps it was a great way to spend a few minutes talking to someone while out on the moor in a friendly way. Its also nice that the stamps are so personal to people, we always take our 2 border terriers and we live in the borders so our stamp means something to us. As long as people continue to be friendly I don't mind where I am in the visitors book.

For me it's a sense of achievement just to find the box! I don't care whether I'm first or last in the book. I always date my (personal) stamp entry though. Who knows, it could be a few years before the next visitor, and they would only know that because I had dated it

"y'know... Geocaching? "

Sorry missed what this has to do with the posting...

Have been to & made an entry in the visitors book. Arh!! memories

Do not see what 'Geocaching' has to do with this posting - do not care for this form of entertainment since the US always try to adopt and monopolise anything developed elsewhere that becomes popular, and 're create' it as something they have 'discovered'Sad! - as are those that think this is anything better than what we already have!!!! Any other letterboxers agree? - let yourselves be heard!!!! This and other forums are for Letterboxing - sad if there are no 'Geocaching' ones you can relate to - if there are- why are you on ours!

Bye!

TWA

Geocaching and letterboxing are great and both take you to new places.
I do both and love it.

If you could just take a moment and read the title of this forum - Dartmoor Letterboxing (The Letterboxing Community) - the title speaks for itself. It doesn't say anything about Geocaching So let's keep this forum for Letterboxers and their queries or just chat.

"other thing/hobby.. y'know... Geocaching?"

I thought I said it with tongue firmly in cheek. I'm NOT a geocaching fan. My post was not about geocaches. I'm a visitors book fan. Long live the visitors book (and Letterboxing)

Please can we just move on?

[quote="whoisthechallenger I'm a visitors book fan. Long live the visitors book (and Letterboxing) Please can we just move on?[/quote]

Yes please - agree with this comment

I was talking Gecaching and LETTERBOXING when I talk on here I always talk letterboxing, but it can lead to talk geocaching, its a similar hobby.

Please put your handbags down this is supposed to be the season of goodwill....
I also have my own feelings about Geocaching and I am inclinded to agree with the comment about it being "American"

But with recent things going on in other American things that have been picked up by European countries watch out for a legal backlash... sadly it is happening all over the place.

A strong comment I know but that is how I feel...