Sunday, September 25, 2011

0084. Trinidad and Tobago - Port of Spain Lighthouse


The Port-of-Spain Lighthouse was built at the base of the St. Vincent Jetty.  As the shoreline has been extended, the purpose of the light has been lost.  The Lighthouse was located on South Quay Drive in downtown Port-of-Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2005, the Lighthouse was repainted in a colorful pattern honoring Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup Soccer team.  In 2006, again, the Lighthouse was painted to publicize the Cricket World Cup played in Trinidad in 2007.

Trinidad and Tobago Post commemorated the Port-of-Spain Lighthouse by the release of $1.00 stamp depicting the Lighthouse in its original context and $4.50 stamp depicting the Lighthouse in its recent form on 2003

Built in 1880, the Port-of-Spain Lighthouse:
  • Tower is HEXAGONAL
  • Lantern is at the top of the Tower
  • Gallery is in the middle of the Tower
  • Tower is painted WHITE with RED & BLACK trim
  • Height is 20 meters

Saturday, September 24, 2011

0083. Alderney - Les Casquets Lighthouse (1952 - Electrification Light Source)


The Les Casquets Lighthouse was converted to Electric Light during 1952, with the installation of a 2830 Kilocandela lamp.  The lamp is unusual in that, it rotates counter-clockwise.  

Guernsey Postal Administration commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Electrification of the Les Casquets Lighthouse by the release of 65p stamp on 30-Jul-2002 which depicts the Electrification of the Lighthouse.

Friday, September 23, 2011

0082. Alderney - Les Casquets Lighthouse (1818 - Revolving Apparatus Light Source)


The Les Casquets Lighthouse was upgraded with an apparatus to rotate a beam of light in 1818.  This had a clockwork mechanism which was wound up every hour and a half and gave 1 (one) flash every 15 seconds.

On 31-Oct-1823, the Lighthouses were badly damaged due to severe storm.  The towers were raised by 10 meters in 1854 and equipped with lamps which gave three slow flashes every half minute.  In 1877, the North-West Tower was raised and the lights in the other two nearby towers discontinued.

Guernsey Postal Administration commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Electrification of the Les Casquets Lighthouse by the release of 45p stamp on 30-Jul-2002 which depicts the Revolving Apparatus Light Source of the Lighthouse.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

0081. Alderney - Les Casquets Lighthouse (1790 - Argand Lamp Light Source)


The Oil Lamps of Les Casquets Lighthouse were converted to metal reflectors and Argand Lamps  on 25-Nov-1790. 

Guernsey Postal Administration commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Electrification of the Les Casquets Lighthouse by the release of 36p stamp on 30-Jul-2002 which depicts the Argand Lamp Light Source of the Lighthouse.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

0080. Alderney - Les Casquets Lighthouse (1779 - Oil Lantern Light Source)


The Coal Fired Les Casquets Lighthouse were converted to Oil Lamps with metal reflectors which were first used on 25-Nov-1790. 

Guernsey Postal Administration commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Electrification of the Les Casquets Lighthouse by the release of 27p stamp on 30-Jul-2002 which depicts the Copper framed Oil Lantern Light Source of the Lighthouse.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

0079. Alderney - Les Casquets Lighthouse (1725 - Coal Fire Light Source)


Alderney is surrounded by sea and the Lighthouses provide the light for ships to pass safely through a group of rocks known as Les Casquets.  There are a group of rocks about 13 kms West of Alderney.


The active tower is the North-Westernmost of three towers built in 1723-24.  The remaining two towers have been inactive since 1877.  During World War II, the Germans used the light station as an observation post and transmitter site, which attracted commando raids by British forces in 1942-43.  The Lighthouse is accessible only by helicopter.

The Lighthouse started operation on 30-Oct-1724, and there were three towers each lit by Coal Fires called St Peter, St Thomas and the Dungeon.  Three stone towers were built to give the lights a distinctive appearance which would not be confused with Lighthouses in nearby France.

The towers were built by Thomas Le Cocq, owner of the rocks, under the licence from Trinity House and who was paid a Half penny per ton of ship when vessels passed the rocks and in turn he paid Trinity House 50 pounds per year for the right to run the lighthouses.  The Lighthouses were reverted back to Trinity House in 1785.

Guernsey Postal Administration commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Electrification of the Les Casquets Lighthouse by the release of 22p stamp on 30-Jul-2002 which depicts the Coal Fire Light Source of the Lighthouse.

Built in 1723, the Les Casquets Lighthouse:
  • Tower is CYLINDRICAL stone
  • Tower is painted WHITE and RED HORIZONTAL bands
  • Lantern painted RED
  • Height is 23 meters
  • Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
  • Light character is 5 (five) FLASHES separated by 3.7 seconds every 30 seconds

Monday, September 19, 2011

0078. Greece - Chania Lighthouse



The Chania Lighthouse is the oldest Lighthouse still in operation.  It still saves the Greek shores in Mediterranean waters.  The Lighthouse was operated by French Ottoman Lighthouse Company in 1864.   The stone base of this lighthouse is part of 15th century Venetian Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse is located at the end of the breakwater mole on the East side of the entrance to Chania Harbor, near the North-Western corner of Crete.  It was included in the Greek Lighthouse Network in 1913.  In recent years, Chania has become a popular cruise ship port, making this one of the best-known and most-often-photographed Greek Lighthouses.

Hellenic Post commemorated the Chania Lighthouse by the release of Euro 0.70 stamp on 21-Aug-2009

Built in 1864, the Chania Lighthouse:
  • Tower is ROUND CYLINDRICAL stone
  • Tower mounted on a much older stone base
  • Tower consists of three sections with different cross-section
  • Lighthouse is UNPAINTED WHITE stone
  • Lantern painted WHITE
  • Height is 26 meters
  • Colour scheme of LIGHT is RED
  • Light character is a FLASH every 2.5 seconds

0077. Greece - Korakas Lighthouse


The Korakas Lighthouse was manufactured in 1887 from the French company of Lighthouses and is found in the end of homonym Cape near to village Naoussa.    The Lighthouse is located on the South side of Islet.  It was included in the Greek Lighthouse Network in 1947.

The Lighthouse is automated in 1987.  It now runs on solar energy.

Hellenic Post commemorated the Korakas Lighthouse by the release of Euro 1.00 stamp on 21-Aug-2009

Built in 1887, the Korakas Lighthouse:
  • Tower is SQUARE stone
  • Tower is painted WHITE
  • Height is 10 meters

0076. Cyprus - Cape Greco Lighthouse



The Cape Greco, the South-Eastern tip of Cyprus, is at the end of a long, slender peninsula.  Cape Greco is at the Southern end of Famagusta Bay in the Mediterranean Sea.  Cape Greco is frequently visited by many tourists for its natural beauty.  The Lighthouse is located about 8 km South-East of Ayia Napa, a popular tourist resort.

Cape Greco has high points of the cliffs from where one can view amazing sights out to sea.

Department of Postal Services, Cyprus commemorated the Cape Greco Lighthouse by the release of Euro 0.43 stamp on 4-May-2011

Built in 1892, the Cape Greco Lighthouse:
  • Tower is ROUND masonry
  • Tower is painted WHITE
  • Height is 15 meters
  • Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
  • Light character is 1 (one) LONG FLASH every 15 seconds

Saturday, September 17, 2011

0075. USA - Edward Hopper's The Long Leg Picture Postcard



This stamp features Edward Hopper's sunlit painting, The Long Leg, painted in oil on canvas around 1930.  The Long Leg depicts a boat sailing against the wind near Provincetown, MA (Massachusetts).  The stamp is officially issued from there.  The painting is in The Huntington Collection.

The Edward Hopper, a very private man and an experienced sailor.  The Long Leg allowed him to combine his love of the sea with his interest in Architecture.  The Lighthouse in the painting is Long Point Light at Provincetown.  The work shows the artist's characteristic use of light and mood of isolation.

The Long Point Light is located in the Cape Cod National Seashore near the end of the sand spit protecting Provincetown Harbor.  The Lighthouse is accessible by boat.  The American Lighthouse Foundation is responsible for restoration and maintenance of the light.

USPS commemorated the Edward Hopper by the release of 44-cent Forever stamp in its American Treasure Stamp Series on 24-Aug-2011.


Built in 1875, the Long Point Light:
  • Tower is SQUARE PYRAMIDAL brick
  • Tower is painted WHITE
  • Lantern painted BLACK
  • Solar powered 300mm lens
  • Height is 38 Feet
  • Colour scheme of LIGHT is GREEN
  • Light character is a OCCULTING every 4 seconds

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