0125. USA - Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (US Coast Guard LH Series-1990)

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is located on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks of North Carolina near the community of Buxton.  The Outer Banks are a group of Islands on the North Carolina that separate the Atlantic Ocean from the Coastal sounds and Inlets.  The Lighthouse is considered an operational aid to navigation maintained by the US Coast Guard.  The Light Tower was decommissioned by the US Coast Guard due to the expensive maintenance cost as well as increasing reliance on GPS.

The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the tallest US Lighthouse and on the tallest brick lighthouses in the World.  It is also the best-known building in North Carolina.  In 2003, the Lighthouse celebrated its 200th anniversary.

USPS commemorated the Cape Hatteras Head Lighthouse (State of North Carolina - US Eastern Coast) by the release of  25c stamp on 26-Apr-1990 in its US Coast Guard Lighthouse Stamp Series-1990.

The 1990 Lighthouse Stamp series is to commemorate the US Coast Guard Bicentennial and US Lighthouse Service and also the series represented one Lighthouse from each of the main coastal regions in the United States.

Built in the year 1803, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse:

• Tower is ROUND brick
• Tower is mounted on an Octagonal brick base which is unpainted red brick
• Tower is painted with BLACK and WHITE SPIRAL pattern
• Lantern painted BLACK
• Height is 61 metres
• Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
• Light character is FLASH every 7.5 seconds

0124. USA - Sandy Hook Lighthouse (US Coast Guard LH Series-1990)

Sandy Hook Lighthouse is located 3 kms inland from the tip of Sandy Hook, New Jersey.  This Lighthouse is the oldest working Lighthouse in USA and also the only Lighthouse tower surviving from the colonial period.

The Lighthouse was designed and built by Isaac Conro.  During its construction, the Lighthouse was only 150 meters from the tip of Sandy Hook.  But, due to growth caused by littoral drift, the Lighthouse is presently 3 kms inland from the tip.

The Lighthouse helps mariners entering the Southern end of the New York Harbor.  The Lighthouse was originally called as New York Lighthouse. 

USPS commemorated the Sandy Hook Head Lighthouse (State of New Jersey - US Eastern Coast) by the release of  25c stamp on 26-Apr-1990 in its US Coast Guard Lighthouse Stamp Series-1990.

The 1990 Lighthouse Stamp series is to commemorate the US Coast Guard Bicentennial and US Lighthouse Service and also the series represented one Lighthouse from each of the main coastal regions in the United States.

Built in the year 1764, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse:

• Tower is OCTAGONAL rubble stone
• Tower is painted WHITE
• Lantern is painted RED
• Height is 26 metres
• Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
• Light character is continuous, day and night
  

0123. USA - West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (US Coast Guard LH Series-1990)

West Quoddy Head stands on the Easternmost point of the USA and the closest point to Europe from a point in the fifty US States.  This is one of the best known of all the American Lighthouse(s) as well as a familiar symbol of Maine Coast.  The Lighthouse is located South of Lubec.  The Lighthouse overlooks Quoddy Narrows, a strait between Canada and USA.

USPS commemorated the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (State of Maine - US Eastern Coast) by the release of  25c stamp on 26-Apr-1990 in its US Coast Guard Lighthouse Stamp Series-1990.

The 1990 Lighthouse Stamp series is to commemorate the US Coast Guard Bicentennial and US Lighthouse Service and also the series represented one Lighthouse from each of the main coastal regions in the United States.

Built in the year 1858, the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse:

• Tower is ROUND brick
• Tower is painted with narrow RED and WHITE stripes
• This Tower painting pattern is unique in US
• Lantern painted BLACK with RED roof
• Height is 15 metres
• Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
• Light character is 2 (two) FLASHES every 15 seconds

0122. USA - American Shoals Lighthouse (US Coast Guard LH Series-1990)

American Shoals Lighthouse located South-East of Key West.  The Lighthouse is close to Looe Key in Florida, USA.  The Lighthouse was completed in 1880 and lit in 15-Jul-1880.  The structure of the Lighthouse was same as that of Fowey Rocks Lighthouse which was completed in 1878.

The Lighthouse was automated in year 1963 with a 4th order lens with Solar-powered light. The Lighthouse was on the outermost reefs and was covered with 1 metre of water. 

USPS commemorated the American Shoals Lighthouse (State of Florida - US Eastern Coast) by the release of  25c stamp on 26-Apr-1990 in its US Coast Guard Lighthouse Stamp Series-1990.

The 1990 Lighthouse Stamp series is to commemorate the US Coast Guard Bicentennial and US Lighthouse Service and also the series represented one Lighthouse from each of the main coastal regions in the United States.

Built in the year 1880, the American Shoals Lighthouse:

• Tower is OCTAGONAL PYRIMIDAL wrought-iron
• Tower has Octagonal 2-storey keeper's house
• Tower is painted REDDISH BROWN with central cylinder WHITE
• Height is 34 mtres
• Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
• Light character is 3 (three) FLASHES every 15 seconds
• Flashes separated by 2.5 secs (2 red sectors cover dangerous shoals)

0121. India - Directorate of LH & LS (Cochin District) - Meter Cancellation

 

The Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships (Cochin District) stretches from Kasaragod to Manakodam and all the Lighthouses in the Lakshadweep Island.  The region meets the navigational requirements of the Major Port of Cochin and number of minor ports of Karnataka and Kerala.

There are about 26 Lighthouse(s) under the Cochin District of the Directorate. 

This postal stationery depicts the Meter Cancellation of the Directorate General of LH & LS (Cochin District), Kadavanthra PO, Cochin.

0120. Srilanka - Galle Lighthouse

Srilanka Post on the occasion of the First anniversary of the Asian Tsunami released a Miniature Sheet comprising of 4 stamps on 26-Dec-2005.   

These stamps were released in remembrance of the Tsunami devastation which occurred on 26-Dec-2004.  An earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter Scale was felt soon after the Tsunami.  The magnitude of the earthquake, Tsunami and the year were depicted in the stamp(s) as well as in the Miniature Sheet.

The 33.00 (LKR) postage stamp depicts the Tsunami waves sweeping on the Galle Lighthouse built in the Galle Fort by the Dutch.

NOTE : Details about Galle Lighthouse is available in my Post No.0118....

0119. Srilanka - Lighthouse(s) Miniature Sheet

Srilanka Post commemorated the:

1. Little Basses Lighthouse 0.50 cents value

2. Great Basses Lighthouse 0.75 cents value

3. Devinuwara (Dondra) Lighthouse 2.00 (LKR) value

4. Galle Lighthouse 20.00 (LKR) value

by the release of Miniature Sheet on 22-Jan-1996.

NOTE : Details about these Lighthouse(s) are available in my Post Nos.0111 to 0113 and 0118....

0118. Srilanka - Galle Lighthouse

Galle Lighthouse is Srilanka's oldest light station.  Galle Lighthouse is located in the middle of an ancient Galle Fort, declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.  The Lighthouse is therefore a part of the World Heritage Site.  Galle is Srilanka's oldest city, located on the South-Western shore of the island.  Galle has a natural harbor with South pointing promontory.  The Lighthouse is strategically located at the end of the promontory, giving it full view of any ships.

In 1505, the Portuguese arrived Galle.  They seized control of the city from the Srilankan kings and began construction of the Galle Fort.  In 1640, the Dutch captured the city and built the Lighthouse at the Galle Fort. But, during a battle, the Lighthouse was burnt down.  The Dutch remained in Srilanka for almost 150 years.  The city was taken by the British in 1796.  Thus, the city was under the European domination for almost four centuries.

The Galle Lighthouse is situated at the edge of the quadrangular Galle Fort and is built 20 feet above the road level on the ramparts.  The Lighthouse was a round-shaped.  The wind direction can be observed with the help of a red arrow at the top of the Lighthouse.  The exterior wall of the Lighthouse was adorned with lines resembling rings and there were about 23 lines carved from top to the bottom.  The Lighthouse has an automated system where the lights go ON and OFF through automatic system.  The present Lighthouse was built by British in 1939. 

Srilanka Post commemorated the Galle Lighthouse by the release of 20.00 (LKR) postage stamp on 22-Jan-1996. 

Re-built in 1939, the Galle Lighthouse:

• Tower is ROUND cast-iron
• Tower painted WHITE
• Base of the lantern is painted RED
• Height is 27 meters
• Colour scheme of LIGHT is WHITE
• Light character is 2 (two) FLASHES every 15 seconds

0117. Srilanka - Devinuwara (Dondra) Lighthouse - Overprint

Srilanka Post commemorated the Devinuwara (Dondra) Lighthouse by the release of 2.50 (LKR) postage stamp with Overprint of 2.00 (LKR) on 3-Dec-1999. 

NOTE : Details about this Lighthouse is available in my Post No.0113....

0116. Srilanka - Devinuwara (Dondra) Lighthouse - Overprint #3

Srilanka Post commemorated the Devinuwara (Dondra) Lighthouse by the release of 2.00 (LKR) postage stamp with Overprint of 2.50 (LKR) on 12-Feb-1997.  

This is the 3rd one of the 4 Overprint(s) of  2.00 (LKR) Devinuwara (Dondra) Lighthouse stamp. 

NOTE : Details about this Lighthouse is available in my Post No.0113....