On my brand new 2004 CR-V, I noticed the owner's manual does not give
generic part numbers for the lamps. I went to my dealer looking for
this information and they were befuddled, and could only give me the
Honda part numbers.

Is this typical of Honda automobiles to have exclusive lamps that
aren't the typical Osram Sylvania, etc, part numbers? I'm simply
trying to make a spare lamp kit to keep in the car, and I'm trying to
do my shopping in my neighborhood auto parts store.

Why should HONDA provide you with "generic" part
numbers for any part? It makes no sense.

I NEVER buy non-HONDA parts for my cars. I have found
that as a rule teh quality of HONDA parts is much
higher than any other brand.

To clarifiy what you have , take out one of the bulbs and look at the numbers or ascertain the bulb's comfirgurations. Not likely that Honda would have a proprietary hold on their lamps and bulbs.
 
 

It makes only as much sense as Chrysler owner's manuals have
published this generic lamp info for decades. Why wouldn't Honda?
But, it didn't matter - Walmart (How Can I Help You?) had all the
bulb information that I would ever need for my CR-V. I wonder if Sam
owns Honda? Thanks for your response and opinion.

Walmart had all the CR-V information, and I picked up the lamps I
needed - common ones, too! It was too cold this weekend to be yanking
bulbs out to look at the part number!