Forever Stamps Feature New England Coastal Lighthouses

PORTLAND, Maine, July 11, 2013 —— Five lighthouses that for centuries enabled sailors to safely navigate the waters along the northeastern United States stand tall on postage Saturday, July 13, with the issuance of the New England Coastal Lighthouse Forever stamps.  

The sixth issuance in the popular U.S. Postal Service lighthouse series features five New England Coastal Lighthouses: Portland Head (Cape Elizabeth, ME); Portsmouth Harbor (New Castle, NH); Boston Harbor (Boston, MA); Point Judith (Narragansett, RI) and New London Harbor (New London, CT).

“We are proud to celebrate New England’s lighthouses, which have been guiding ships and guarding the coastline for almost 300 years,” said U.S. Postal Service Governor Dennis Toner, who will dedicate the stamps Saturday at the Portland Head Light. “As some of America’s oldest lighthouses, they continue a tradition going back to ancient civilizations, when early sailors relied on light from the shore to navigate waters.”

“Our stamp images capture each structure’s sense of majesty, along with the mysterious qualities that invite us to take a closer look,” he added. “And don’t forget, these Forever stamps can be used anytime in the future to mail First-Class letters, regardless of price changes. These stamps — like the lighthouses they honor — are meant to stand the test of time.”

The stamp art for each of the lighthouses is a painting based on contemporary photographs. The New England Coastal Lighthouses Forever stamps were designed by art directors Howard E. Paine of Delaplane, VA, and Greg Breeding of Charlottesville, VA, painted by artist Howard Koslow of Toms River, NJ.