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Harbour Lights collectors! For most of the nation, we have had one of the more severe winters on record, but for many lighthouse enthusiasts, this is an ideal time to start planning upcoming excursions travelling to one's favorite lighthouses during the more pleasant months of spring.
Talking about travel, I have just spoken with Harbour Lights and as of this writing, Bill Younger is in England at the Collectible Trade Show in Birmingham, introducing the Pharos Collection to retailers throughout Europe. For those of you not familiar with the Pharos Collection, named after the Latin term Pharos for lighthouse-this is a new line that will be packaged in different boxes that we in the States are used to; the sculptures will be smaller in size and represent international lighthouses. The Pharos Collection will not exceed 8000 in edition size and start with the introduction of five pieces: Portland Bill, England; Needles Point, England; Ballinacourty Point, Ireland; Bell Rock, Scotland; and Trywn-Du, Wales.
Harbour Lights is aware of its loyal following here in North America, so they have set aside the first two thousand editions for special order through your dealer. If you have an interest in lighthouses abroad it would be recommended to make arrangements to purchase these early edition numbers. I would imagine the lighthouse craze would become very popular in Europe.
Here at home, look for a matched set of Round Island, Mississippi, Then and Now. This set will be a timed release that will only be produced through September 27th, 2000. Harbour Lights has chosen this date to commemorate the demise of the light on September 27, 1998. As many readers of Lighthouse Digest will remember from past articles reporting the devastation that Hurricane Georges had brought to the 139-year-old lighthouse on Round Island. Harbour Lights depiction of 'Then' presents this historical lighthouse in its glory years and 'Now' portrays the battered, brick shell remains of the lighthouse surrounded by water, all that remains after being ravaged by mother nature's fury. There is an active group planning on revitalizing this once heroic light. The Round Island Lighthouse Committee is hard at work to raise funds and support to rebuild this once tower of strength. If you would like to help please contact Harbour Lights or Lighthouse Digest and I am sure they will be able to put you in contact with this fine organization.
Other news. Look for the introduction of Ship John Shoal, Delaware, still an active light station. Last year's apprearance on the cover of Lighthouse Depot helped to prompt Harbour Lights to produce Ship John Shoal this Spring. Harbour Lights had not planned on producing this lightstation this soon, but because the mailman in Harbour Lights' hometown of San Diego, CA had been so bogged down with mail requesting this light, they thought they would give the mailman a break!
Secondary market news. Avid collectors have been seeking out the early version of Harbour Lights made in Canada. A lot of these pieces have been commanding premiums because there was so few of them made. They came in white boxes labelled Castle Studios and many would have a maple leaf sticker on the bottom. If you have one or more of these in your collection you have a prized treasure well worth keeping.
Next month we will announce the winner of our trivia contest the world's brightest lighthouse. Keep those cards and letters coming and as always, Keep the Flame!
Matt Rothman is the owner of the Lighthouse Trading Company, which is the original and leading source specializing in the secondary market of Harbour Lights. He can be contacted by mail at 112, Elio Circle, Limerick PA 19468 or by calling him at (610)409-9336. Email LHTRADE1@aol.com
This story appeared in the March 2000 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
All contents copyright © 1995 - 2003 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.
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